autoimmunity and vasculitis

Question 1

Describe the autoimmune process

Answer 1

A breakdown in the mechanisms that maintain ‘self tolerance’ leads to activation of self reactive B and T cell clones and generation of auto-antibodies and/or cell mediated responses to self antigens (‘Autoimmunity’)

Question 2

When does autoimmune disease occur

Answer 2

Occur when humoral and/or cell mediated responses to self antigen are associated with pathological changes.

Question 3

Give 5 examples of an AI disease

Answer 3

MS
Hashimoto's 
MG
T1DM
SLE
Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 4

2 methods used to identify serum autoantibodies?

Answer 4

immunofluorescence

ELISA

Question 5

autoantibodies for coeliac disease x2

Answer 5

IgA endomysial Abs

IgA tTG antibodies

Question 6

2 antibodies associated with Goodpasteur’s syndrome

Answer 6

anti-glomerular basement membrane

anti-PR3 (c-ANCA)

Question 7

antibody for Sjogren’s syndrome

Answer 7

Anti-SSA (Ro)

Anti-SSB (La)

Question 8

antibody for rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 8

anti-CCP

Question 9

what is vasculitis?

Answer 9

The primary systemic vasculitides are a group of clinical disorders characterised by inflammation of blood vessels causing ischaemia and organ damage

Question 10

How can vasculitis lead to multi-system involvement

Answer 10

Multi-system involvement is common, because the inflammation can involve a number of vascular beds (e.g. renal, pulmonary, cutaneous)

Question 11

Typical investigations for autoimmune disease and vasculitis

Answer 11

Serum Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA & IgM
Complement components C3,C4
CRP
FBC/DC
U&E, RFT
Urine sediment