Autoimmune Diseases

Question 1

When the body’s natural defense system can’t differentiate between your own cells and foreign cells and attacks itself

Answer 1

Autoimmune disease

Question 2

Autoimmune disorders may result in

Answer 2

• destruction of body tissue
• abnormal organ growth
• changes in organ function

Question 3

Mechanisms of autoimmunity

Answer 3

• release of sequestered self antigens
• tolerance to self antigens can be terminated due to cross reactions with microbial antigens
• altered immunoregulation and diminished suppressor t cell funct
• viral infections: break self tolerance and induce autoimmunity
• age, hormonal, and genetic influence

Question 4

IMHA

Answer 4

• immune mediated hemolytic anemia
• autoantibodies attack RBCs
• cocker spaniels and poodles predisposed

Question 5

IMT

Answer 5

• Immune mediated thrombocytopenia
• autoantibodies attack/destroy platelets
• whippets, greyhounds predisposed
• causes uncontrollable bleeding etc.

Question 6

Rheumatiod arthritis

Answer 6

• autoantibody attaches to normal IgG causing immune complexes; joint inflammation
• common in dogs
• Test for RF (rheumatoid factor)

Question 7

Pemphigous foliaceus

Answer 7

• most common autoimmune disease in small animals
• causative antibodies against intercellular cement substance -> disruption of keratinocyte cohesion
• blisters/vesicles seen on face; thickening of foot pads, etc
• GSD, akita, chow chow, cocker spaniels, lab retrievers, english bulldogs susceptible

Question 8

3 other types of pemphigus

Answer 8

• Erythematosus
• Vulgaris

-Vegetans

Question 9

Pemphigus Erythematosus

Answer 9

• affects head and structures of face/ears
• mildest form of pemphigus
• collies, gsd, shetland sheepdogs susceptible

Question 10

Pemphigus vulgaris

Answer 10

• painful
• ulcers and erosions in mouth or other mucocutaneous junctions

Question 11

Pemphigus vegetans

Answer 11

• least common pemphigus
• prod. proliferative lesions

Question 12

Canine lupus erythematosus

Answer 12

• autoantibodies to nucleic acids
• starts w/ lesions on nose or footpads, then erosive ulcers
• areas may become red and irritated
• gsd, siberian huskies, collies, shetlands predisposed
• avoid sunlight/uv rays bc makes condition worse

Question 13

SLE

Answer 13

• autoantibodies attack many cell types and proteins
• heart, joints, kidneys may be involved
• fever and lameness common

Question 14

Bullous pemphigoid

Answer 14

• rare asf
• affects skin, oral mucosa, or both
• dogs, cats, humans
• large blisters that rupture easily, hives or welts may be present
• can spontaneously regress

Question 15

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Answer 15

• enlarged thyroid, tiredness, weight gain, muscle weakness
• treatment: replacement therapy w/ synthetic T4
• hypothyroidism
• antibodies against thyroglobulin, thyroid colloid antigen
• naturally happens in white leghorn chickens

Question 16

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

Answer 16

Lethargy, weight gain, obesity, hair loss/coat changes, low serum thyroid conc.

Question 17

Grave’s Disease

Answer 17

• aka hyperthyroidism
• high T3 & T4
• Treatment: radioiodine therapy; thyroidectomy
• buggy eyes, weight loss, tremors, heat sensitivity, fatigue, etc

Question 18

Myasthenia gravis

Answer 18

• malfunction in transmission of signals between nerves nd muscles
• high amts of acetylcholinesterase
• Treatment: acetylcholine; corticosteroids; azathioprine, mycophenolate

Question 19

Type I diabetes

Answer 19

• exact cause unknown
• aka diabetes mellitus
• trigger/infection-> body attacks beta cells = no insulin
• Treatment: insulin; immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisolone, azathioprine, etc

Question 20

IBD

Answer 20

• syndrome rather than disease
• exact cause unknown; maybe rxn to protein in diet or infection
• interferes w/ ability to absorb and digest nutrients
• chronic vomiting or diarrhea may be signs

Question 21

How to diagnose IBD

Answer 21

• Fecal exam for infectious organisms
• measure B12 levels in blood
• measure blood folate (indicates if normal bacteria imbalance present)
• tissue biopsies
• endoscopy

Question 22

Granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GENERAL)

Answer 22

• acute, progressive inflamm. disease of CNS in dogs
• terriers and poodles susceptible

Question 23

Focal Granulomatous meningoencephalitis

Answer 23

• chronic, progressive (3-6 mos)
• clinical signs show up after nodular granuloma formation and mimic space in tumors/masses

Question 24

Multifocal/ disseminated GME

Answer 24

• acute, progressive (2-6 weeks)
• affects lower brain stem, cervical spinal cord, and meninges
• within 1 week, 25% animals die

Question 25

Ocular GME

Answer 25

• acute, progressive, or static
• unilat or bilat

Question 26

Diagnosing Granulomatous meningioencephalitis

Answer 26

• CT & MRI; but difficult to differentiate lesions from neoplasia

Question 27

Granulomatous meningoencephalitis treatment

Answer 27

• corticosteroids
• maybe radiation therapy

Question 28

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Answer 28

• aka ‘Dry eye’
• occurs in dogs and cats
• immune-mediated destruction of lacrimal glands
• dogs may respond to cyclosporine eye drops

Question 29

Glomerulonephritis

Answer 29

• immune complexes filtered out of blood and trapped inside glomeruli, triggering immune response
• signs: high protein in urine, low protein in blood, weigh and muscle loss, nephrotic syndrome: fluid in abd cavity, limb swelling, and increased respiratory effort
• diagnosis: urine culture test (urine creatnine ratio), CBC, serum chem, BP measurement, radiographs or ultrasound of kidneys, kidney biopsy
• incurable