32. SLE and RA

Question 1

How would the complement levels of a patient undergoing a severe course of SLE compare with those of a healthy individual? Why?

Answer 1

Serum levels of complement are decreased in SLE patients during disease flare-ups because they are being used up.

Question 2

How would the complement levels of a patient undergoing a severe course of SLE compare with those of a healthy individual? Why?

Answer 2

x

Question 3

What antibodies are associated with each of the following patterns in the indirect immunofluorescence test for Anti-Nuclear Antibodies: homogeneous, peripheral, speckled, nucleolar? Which pattern is specific for SLE?

Answer 3

x

Question 4

Immunofluorescence in the kinetoplast of Crithidia luciliae in an IFA test is indicative of what antibody?

Answer 4

x

Question 5

What are two methods that can be used to detect antibodies to the nuclear antigens, Sm and RNP?

Answer 5

x

Question 6

What antigen is rheumatoid factor directed against?

Answer 6

x

Question 7

What is the clinical significance of rheumatoid factor?

Answer 7

x

Question 8

What types of cryoglobulins are found in some patients with SLE or rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 8

x

Question 9

What autoimmune disease is associated with the presence of antibody to citrullinated peptide (CCP)?

Answer 9

x

Question 10

What antibodies are associated with each of the following patterns in the indirect immunofluorescence test for Anti-Nuclear Antibodies: homogeneous, peripheral, speckled, nucleolar? Which pattern is specific for SLE?

Answer 10

Homogeneous = abs against DNA, histones
Peripheral = abs against native (ds) DNA
Speckled = abs against ENA
Nucleolar = anti-RNA

Peripheral pattern is specific for SLE

Question 11

Immunofluorescence in the kinetoplast of Crithidia luciliae in an IFA test is indicative of what antibody?

Answer 11

Anti-DNA

Question 12

What are two methods that can be used to detect antibodies to the nuclear antigens, Sm and RNP?

Answer 12

Ouchterlony or Fluorescent Microbead Immunoassay?

Question 13

What antigen is rheumatoid factor directed against?

Answer 13

the Fc portion of IgG

Question 14

What is the clinical significance of rheumatoid factor?

Answer 14

present in 30% of patients with SLE and 80% of patients with RA?

Question 15

What types of cryoglobulins are found in some patients with SLE or rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 15

Types II or III

Question 16

What autoimmune disease is associated with the presence of antibody to citrullinated peptide (CCP)?

Answer 16

Rheumatoid Arthritis