Sarah Ringold

Systemic lupus erythematosus

“Butterfly” rash Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also called lupus, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system (the cells in the body that fight infection) incorrectly attack the body’s own tissues and organs, leading to inflammation and damage. Lupus most commonly affects women of childbearing age but also occurs in children, adolescents, and men. The cause of lupus is unknown, but it has been associated with genetic, environmental, and infectious causes. The disorder may affect almost all organs in the body. It may be mild in some cases (for example, involving only the skin) and very severe in other cases (affecting multiple organs, including the brain). The disease course is characterized by flares (intervals of active disease) and remissions (intervals of inactive disease). This Patient Page is based on one published in the June 22/29, 2005, issue of JAMA.

JAMA patient page. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

W hen the heart stops beating (cardiac arrest), only a few minutes remain before that person dies, unless circulation (blood flow) returns or is restored. Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a way to keep some circulation going until expert help arrives. Compressing—pushing down on the patient’s chest and then allowing the chest to recoil—helps push some blood through the heart, into the lungs, and into the major arteries of the body (including to the brain). These chest compressions, possibly combined with artificial respiration (breathing) that is usually performed in a “mouth-to-mouth” manner, are termed basic CPR. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have become part of out-of-hospital resuscitation efforts. Using an AED can be lifesaving in certain types of cardiac arrest. AEDs are increasingly available in schools, athletic venues, airports, and other public places. The October 6, 2010, issue of JAMA contains an article about performing CPR using chest compressions only, without mouth-to-mouth breathing, during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.