Use the following case for Questions 5-7. BT isa 26 yo female who presents to your clinic to see her primary careprovider (PCP) about a facial rash and fever. She has been feelingachy lately, and thought she may have been experiencing the flu,but it has lasted a long time plus the symptoms are getting worseand not better. Her primary care provider examines BT and checkssome lab values. Her blood is positive for antinuclear antibodiesand her ESR is 36 mm/hr. The PCP diagnoses BT with SLE.
5. What therapieswould you recommend BT receive at this time (both pharmacologicaland nonpharmacological modalities)?
6. BT and herhusband want to expand their family in the future, so she asks youhow pregnancy will affect her disease and possible treatmenteffects on the baby. What should you tell her?
7. BT returns toyour pharmacy the following day after spending all eveningresearching her newly diagnosed disease. She read that SLE canincrease risk of thrombosis and wants to know how that is. Why andhow does lupus make patients prone to thrombosis?
8. A 36 yo femalewith previously mild SLE develops a severe exacerbation. Shepresents with fever, new rash, fatigue, large increase in serumcreatinine, and severe joint pain. Which is most urgent symptom tomanage, and how should it be treated?
9. a. Whichquestion in this assignment was most difficult and why? How did youeventually decide upon an answer? b. What do you still want to knowmore about?