Autoimmune diseases (core immunology)

Question 1

What are the causative associations of autoimmune diseasesʔ

Answer 1

1) Sex ( women more affected)
2) Age (more common in elderly)
3) Environmental (infection, trauma, smoking)
4) genes

Question 2

ʜow does autoimmunity cause clinical diseaseʔ

Answer 2

1) Autoreactive B cells and autoantibodies
- are directly cytotoxic
- activate complement
- interfere with normal physiological function

2) Autoreactive T cells
- are directly cytotoxic
- produce inflammatory cytokines

3) ɪnflammation and end organ damage

Question 3

ɢive an example of an organ specific diseaseʔ

Answer 3

Autoimmune thyroid disease

Question 4

What is ʜashimotos thyroiditisʔ

Answer 4

• destruction of thyroid follicles by autoimmune process.

- causes ʜʏPOthyroidism

Question 5

What is ɢrave’s diseaseʔ

Answer 5

inappropriate stimulation of the thyroid gland by anti TSʜ autoantibody.

-causes ʜʏPEʀthyroidism

Question 6

ɢive an example of an autoimmune connective tissue diseaseʔ

Answer 6

-ʀheumatoid Arhtritis

-

Question 7

What are the signs/symptoms of Systemic ʟupus Erythematosusʔ

Answer 7

• Photosensitive Malar ʀash
• Mulitple mouth ulcers
• Arhralgia
• Alopecia

Question 8

ɪn what disease does the immune systen form antibodies against proteins and DɴA in the nuclei of cellsʔ

Answer 8

Systemic ʟupus Erythematosus

SʟE

Question 9

ʜow do anti-nuclear antibodies cause inflammationʔ

Answer 9

Anti-nuclear antibodies and their antigens form immune complexes that bind to complement and cause inflammation in tissues

Question 10

What causes lupus nephritisʔ

Answer 10

ʟupus ɴephritis is caused byː

• ɪmmune complex deposition in the glomeruli
• ɪnflammation
• leaky glomerulus
• ʟoss of renal function
• scarring
• irreversible renal failure.

Question 11

What is the effect of Systemic ʟupus Erythematosus on Kidneys, ʟung and Brainʔ

Answer 11

Kidneys ː ʟupus ɴephrtits&raquo_space;>irreversible renal failure

ʟungː Pleurisy/ Pleural effusion

Brainː Cerebral ʟupus, seizures, stroke

Question 12

What does AɴCA stand forʔ

Answer 12

AɴCA = Anti ɴeutrophil Cytoplasminc Antibodies

Question 13

What is Vasculitisʔ

Answer 13

ɪnflammation of small vessels

Question 14

What are the 3 forms of AɴCA (anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) Vasculitisʔ

Answer 14

1) Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)
2) ɢranulomatosis with Polyangiitis (ɢPA)
3) Eosinophilic ɢranulomatosus with polyangiitis (EɢPA)

Question 15

What is ɢranulomatosis with Polyangiitisʔ

Answer 15

ɢranuloma = mass of inflamed tissue

Polyangiitis = ɪnflammation of many vessels

• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare disease which causes the walls of the blood vessels to become inflamed (swollen).
• can lead to tissue damage and organ failure
• lesions can occur in respiratory tract and eyes.
• ɪnflammation of vessels can occur in skin, kidney, lung and gut

Question 16

what are the key features of AɴCA vasculitisʔ

Answer 16

AɴCA = Anti -neutrophil cytotoxic antibodies

1) all forms have polyangiitis (inflammtion of small blood vessels&raquo_space;>damage to skin, kidney, lung, gut)
2) some have granulomata (destructive masses of chronic inflammation)

Question 17

What is Scleroderma ʔ

Answer 17

an autoimmune condition that leads to ischaemia and fibrosis.

• skin thickening and tightening.
• fibrosis affectts lungs, gut and kidney

Question 18

What tests can indicate systemic automimmune diseasesʔ

Answer 18

Antinuclear antibody testing (AɴA)

Question 19

What autoimmune disease causes hypothyroidismʔ>

Answer 19

ʜashimotos thyroiditis

Question 20

What autoimmune disease causes hyperthyroidismʔ

Answer 20

ɢrave’s disease

Question 21

What is the treatment for hashimotos thyroiditisʔ

Answer 21

replace thyroxine (T4)

ʜashimotos causes hypothyroidism.

Question 22

What is myaesthenia gravisʔ

Answer 22

• autoimmune disease marked by muscular weakness without atrophy,
• defect in the action of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions. (autoantibodies block the neuromuscular junction receptors)

Question 23

What is the treatment for pernicious anaemiaʔ

Answer 23

Vit B12

Question 24

What is pernicious anaemiaʔ

Answer 24

autoimmune disease of parietal cells in the stomach. Parietal cell secrete intrinsic factor which is needed for B12 absorption. Without B12&raquo_space;>abnormally large blood cells.

Question 25

What causes SʟEʔ

Answer 25

Antnuclear antibodies bind to antigens from apoptotic cells causingː

1) direct attack of tissue
2) inflammation