autoimmune disorders

Question 1

what are effects of autoimmunity?

Answer 1

1. tissue destruction (diabetes)
2. antibodies block normal function
   (Myasthenia gravis)
3. antibodies stimulate inappropriate function
   (Graves disease)
4. antigen antibody complexes affect function
   (rheumatoid arthritis)
   (Herrington, 2019)

Question 2

name four types of autoimmune disorders

Answer 2

• graves disease
• insulin dependant diabetes
• rheumatoid arthritis
• lupus
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 3

what is autoimmunity?

Answer 3

• self tolerance against own body
• own cells acting against each other
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 4

list possible causes of autoimmune disorders

Answer 4

• age: often starts between 15 - 44
• gender: mostly affects women
• environment: chemicals, infections, stress
• genetics and ethnic groups
• diet: western diet, gluten
• hygiene hypothesis: vaccines, antiseptics
• altered microbiome
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 5

what are the two types of autoimmune disorders?

Answer 5

1. organ specific - diabetes (pancreas), arthritis (joints), graves disease (thyroid), Crohn’s (intestine)
2. Systemic - lupus (blood whole body)
   (Herrington, 2019)

Question 6

how does graves disease occur?

Answer 6

• binding of TSH to receptor on thyroid cells stimulates synthesis of two thyroid hormones
• someone with graves make autoantibodies to the receptor for TSH
• binding of the autoantibodies to receptor mimics normal action of TSH
• can cause fatty tissue behind eye
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 7

what is myasthenia gravis?

Answer 7

• affects myoneural junction, characterised by varying degrees of weakness of the voluntary muscles
• antibodies directed at acetylcholine receptor sites impair transmission of impulses across the myoneural junction
• fewer receptors are available for stimulation, resulting in voluntary muscle weakness that escalates with continued activity
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 8

what are symptoms of myasthenia gravis?

Answer 8

• Muscle weakness
  
  • Fatigue
  • Droopy eyelids
  • Blurry or double vision
• Trouble walking
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 9

what is lupus?

Answer 9

• chronic, multi system inflammatory disease characterised by auto antibodies directed against self antigens, immune complex formation and immune dysregulation resulting in damage to essentially any organ
• injury to skin, joints, kidney
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 10

what are sign and symptoms of lupus?

Answer 10

• painful/swollen joins
• unexplained fever
• rashes
• chest pain upon deep breathing
• unusual loss of hair
• edema is legs
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 11

what are ways of managing lupus?

Answer 11

• holistic management can reduce risk of flare
• lifestyle interventions: smoking, no sunlight
• antimalarials
• immunosuppressants when needed
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 12

what is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 12

• chronic inflammatory disease
• swelling stiffness
• affects hands feet and wrists
• unknown trigger
• bone damage
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 13

how can rheumatoid arthritis be managed?

Answer 13

• decrease joint pain and swelling
• achieve clinical remission
• minimise disability
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 14

what is Crohn’s disease?

Answer 14

• inflammation anywhere in GI tract
• inflammation in patches, usually large sections of bowel
• typically in lower right abdomen
• ulcers can penetrate entire thickness of abdominal lining
• bleeding uncommon
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 15

what are auto inflammatory diseases?

Answer 15

• when innate immune cells become activated, due to dysregulated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and further damage to host tissues
  (Herrington, 2019)

Question 16

why do auto inflammatory disease occur?

Answer 16

• due to hyper activation of the innate immune system
• result from abnormalities of the adaptive immune system
• treat by blocking inflammatory pathway
  (Herrington, 2019)