Background

Question 1

Define autoimmune disease

Answer 1

• Broad range of diseases where a person’s immune system produces an inappropriate response against its own cells, tissues and/or organs, resulting in inflammation and damage

Question 2

Discuss the aetiology of autoimmune diseases

Answer 2

• Mostly unknown

* Could be inherited, in which other factors (infections, medications) trigger the onset of disease

Question 3

Discuss the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases (4)

Answer 3

Combination of:
• Clinical history
• Blood tests (auto-antibodies, inflammation, organ function)
• Radiographs 
• Biopsy of affected tissues

Question 4

List the 2 general categories into which autoimmune conditions are separated in

Answer 4

Localised:
• Managed by organ-specific medical specialists (Endocrinologists, Neurologists)

Systemic/ generalised:
• Broadly classified into rheumatologic/connective tissue disease and vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)

Question 5

Provide 4 examples of localised autoimmune conditions

Answer 5

Examples
• Addison’s disease (adrenal)
• Crohn’s disease (gastrointestinal tract)
• Grave’s disease (thyroid)
• Guillain-Barre syndrome (nervous system)

Question 6

Provide examples of generalised/ systemic autoimmune conditions (4)

Answer 6

Examples
• Rheumatoid arthritis (joints)
• Scleroderma (skin)
• Rheumatic fever
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (which affects variety of cells and organs)

Question 7

List the diseases that affect females most (4)

Answer 7

• Sjogren’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Grave’s disease

Question 8

List the diseases that affect men and women equally (2)

Answer 8

• Addison’s diseases

* Psoriasis