Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Management Quiz

1. Corticosteroids are used in SLE flares. Which side effect requires closest monitoring?

Hyperglycemia

Osteoporosis

Immunosuppression

All of the above

2. A patient with SLE experiences serositis. Which clinical finding is expected?

Pleuritic chest pain and pleural effusion

Elevated blood glucose

Thrombocytosis

Hypertension

3. Which screening test should be performed regularly in patients with SLE?

Urinalysis and renal function tests

Chest X-ray monthly

EKG weekly

Blood culture quarterly

4. A patient on mycophenolate mofetil for lupus nephritis reports GI upset. What is the nursing intervention?

Discontinue immediately

Take with food and report persistent symptoms

Double the dose

Switch to a different agent without consulting provider

5. Which patient education point is most critical for SLE management?

Avoid sun exposure and use SPF 50+ sunscreen

Stop all medications during remission

Increase physical activity to prevent flares

Dietary sodium restriction

6. Patients with SLE are at increased risk for which cardiovascular complication?

Premature atherosclerosis

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Mitral stenosis

Aortic regurgitation

7. A patient reports joint pain, fever, and rash. Labs show low C3, elevated ESR, and positive ANA. Which diagnosis is most likely?

Rheumatoid arthritis

Active SLE

Viral infection

Bacterial endocarditis

8. What is the primary pathophysiologic mechanism of SLE?

Loss of self-tolerance and immune dysregulation

Direct bacterial infection

Genetic mutation only

Excessive complement production

9. Which drug interaction is critical for a patient on warfarin and hydroxychloroquine?

Increased bleeding risk

Reduced anticoagulation effect

Enhanced drug metabolism

No significant interaction

10. A patient with SLE has a positive anti-phospholipid antibody. What is the clinical significance?

Increased thrombosis risk

Guaranteed renal disease

Skin involvement only

No clinical significance

11. Which antibody is most specific for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Anti-Smith (anti-Sm)

Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA)

Rheumatoid factor (RF)

Anti-centromere antibody

12. What is the most common manifestation of cutaneous lupus?

Discoid rash

Malar rash

Photosensitive dermatitis

Oral ulcers

13. A patient experiences a lupus flare during pregnancy. Which medication is safest?

Methotrexate

Hydroxychloroquine

Mycophenolate mofetil

Cyclophosphamide

14. NSAIDs are commonly used in SLE. What is a major concern with long-term NSAID use?

Risk of renal impairment

Increased infection risk

Bone marrow suppression

Hepatotoxicity

15. Which organ system complication of SLE carries the highest mortality risk?

Skin involvement

Renal disease

Central nervous system lupus

Arthralgia

16. A patient on hydroxychloroquine reports blurred vision. What is the priority nursing action?

Discontinue the drug immediately

Refer for ophthalmology evaluation

Reduce the dose

Switch to methotrexate

17. Which laboratory finding indicates active SLE disease?

Low complement (C3, C4) levels

Elevated creatinine

Positive rheumatoid factor

High platelet count

18. Lupus nephritis is classified into how many histologic classes?

3 classes

4 classes

5 classes

6 classes

19. Which medication is first-line therapy for mild-to-moderate SLE manifestations?