Autoimmune Dx - Overview

Question 1

List autoimmune dx

Answer 1

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Systemic lupus erythematous (SLS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Celiac dx
Sjögren's syndrome 
Type I diabetes 
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Graves dx

Question 2

List the conditions that can make a pt immunocompromised.

Answer 2

Dx states which destroy key components of the immune response eg HIV

Steroids (oral or injectable) taken > 14 days (at dose of 2mg/kg/day or 20 mg prednisone or prednisone-equivalent dose)

Oncology tx that destroys white blood cells

Transplant drugs that depress immune system

Asplenia (lack of functioning spleen)

Question 3

List labs that may be associated with autoimmune dx

Answer 3

C-reactive protein (CRP)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Rheumatoid factor (RF)

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA)

Question 4

What’s the role of the autoimmune drugs?

Answer 4

They dampen the immune response

Question 5

What conditions tend to increase with the use of immune responses?

Answer 5

TB and hepatitis B

Virus; if viruses can be prevented by a live vaccine, the vaccine must be given prior to the start of tx

Lymphoma and certain skin cancers (these cancers are normally suppressed by the immune system)

Infections of various types

Question 6

If live vaccines are needed, when should they be given?

Answer 6

Prior to the start of Immunosuppresive drugs

Question 7

List live vaccines that may be needed?

Answer 7

Measles

Rubella

Varicella

Zoster

Yellow fever

Question 8

List the inactivated vaccines needed by immunocompromised pts

Answer 8

Influenza vaccine (inactivated)

Tdap

Pneumococcal

HPV vaccine for men and women up to the age of 26yrs

Meningococcal vaccine (either MPSV4 or MC4) for pts with a damaged spleen or terminal complement deficiency

Question 9

What’s autoimmune dx?

Answer 9

Illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are attacked by the person’s own immune system