Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) Practice Exam

What autoimmune connective tissue disease can lead to inflammation and damage to vital organs and is associated with ulcers?

1. Rheumatoid arthritis

2. Lupus erythematosus

3. Scleroderma

4. Vasculitis

The correct answer is: Vasculitis

Lupus erythematosus is the autoimmune connective tissue disease that can lead to inflammation and damage to vital organs, as well as being associated with ulcers. This condition, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), involves a wide array of symptoms, including severe fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and importantly, it can cause skin ulcerations. The immune system in lupus mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues, leading to widespread inflammation that can affect multiple organ systems, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and skin. Lupus has a unique connection to ulcers, especially in the context of cutaneous lupus where discoid lupus can present with ulcerative lesions, and systemic involvement can exacerbate skin manifestations. A key aspect of lupus is its fluctuating course; patients may experience periods of exacerbation and remission. In contrast, while rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma also involve inflammation and can impact multiple systems, they do not directly relate to ulceration in the same way that lupus does. Vasculitis pertains to a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels, and while it can cause skin changes and lesions, it is more focused on the vascular system rather than the diffuse systemic involvement and ulceration