Conditions recap Flashcards
What is C reactive protein?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver that increases in the presence of inflammation in the body. An elevated C-reactive protein level is identified with blood tests and is considered a non-specific “marker” for disease.
What does a raised ESR indicate?
It is a common hematology test, and is a non-specific measure of inflammation. … The ESR is increased in inflammation, pregnancy, anemia, autoimmune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus), infections, some kidney diseases and some cancers (such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma).
Why would you test for anti nuclear bodies?
Antibodies that attack healthy proteins in the nucleus (brain) of your cells are called antinuclear antibodies (ANA). When the body receives signals to attack itself, autoimmune diseases such as lupus (SLE), scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, and others can occur.
What does Rhematoid factor indicate?
Rheumatoid factor is an antibody that is detectable in the blood of approximately 80% of adults with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid factor test is used by health-care professionals to help in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
Sometimes rheumatoid factor can be detected in the blood of normal individuals and of those with other autoimmune diseases that are not rheumatoid arthritis.
In people with rheumatoid arthritis, high levels of rheumatoid factor can indicate a tendency toward more aggressive disease and/or a tendency to develop rheumatoid nodules and/or rheumatoid lung disease.
What do myofibroblasts do in regards to healing?
wound contraction, myofibroblasts decrease the size of the wound by gripping the wound edges and contracting using a mechanism that resembles that in smooth muscle cells. When the cells’ roles are close to complete, unneeded cells undergo apoptosis.[6
In regards to melanoma what does ABCD stand for?
Assymetry,
Border
Colour
Diameter
Evoling/changing appearance
Some complications of Herpes Zoster?/shingles
Secondary bacterial infection
Motor involvement, including weakness especially in “motor herpes zoster”
Eye involvement: trigeminal nerve involvement (as seen in herpes ophthalmicus) should be treated early and aggressively as it may lead to blindness. Involvement of the tip of the nose in the zoster rash is a strong predictor of herpes ophthalmicus.[71]
Postherpetic neuralgia, a condition of chronic pain following shingles
Name some conditions that present a prupruic rash in children
meningococcal infection - the rash may start off as a blanching rash and your child may have fever. The rash can appear before your eyes
idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura - the rash is often more purpuric than petechial usually. you start off with large bruises that occur easily. The condition is caused by low platelets, which are the clotting cells in the blood. It usually resolves by itself over time, but sometimes treatment is required. See your doctor to confirm that this is the condition
leukemia - this is a cancer of the bone marrow and causes low blood cells, including the clotting cells. Children may also be pale and prone to infection.
severe infection - any infection if severe enough may interfere with the normal body clotting system and if your child is sick and has a petechial or purpuric rash, you need to seek urgent medical attention
what is Raynauds phenomeonem?
Raynaud’s is usually triggered by cold temperatures, anxiety or stress. The condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm, which blocks the flow of blood.
Describe Mysethenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of skeletal muscle weakness.[1] The most commonly affected muscles are those of the eyes, face, and swallowing. It can result in double vision, drooping eyelids, trouble talking, and trouble walking. Onset can be sudden
an autoimmune disease which results from antibodies that block or destroy nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the junction between the nerve and muscle.
One test is for antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor;[
Describe Guillain Barr Syndrome
a rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system
initial symptoms are typically changes in sensation or pain along with muscle weakness, beginning in the feet and hands. This often spreads to the arms and upper body with both sides being involved.
The symptoms develop over hours to a few weeks.[2] During the acute phase, the disorder can be life-threatening with about 15% developing weakness of the breathing muscles requiring mechanical ventilation.[1]
Some are affected by changes in the function of the autonomic nervous system, which can lead to dangerous abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure.[2]
nderlying mechanism involves an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves and damages their myelin insulation
Two thirds of people with Guillain–Barré syndrome have experienced an infection before the onset of the condition. Most commonly these are episodes of gastroenteritis or a respiratory tract infection.
Can cause Low potassium and Sodium
Describe the prognosis (outcome of GBS)
Guillain–Barré syndrome can lead to death as a result of a number of complications: severe infections, blood clots, and cardiac arrest likely due to autonomic neuropathy. Despite optimum care this occurs in about 5% of cases
etermined mainly by age (those over 40 may have a poorer outcome), and by the severity of symptoms after two weeks. Furthermore, those who experienced diarrhea before the onset of disease have a worse prognosis.
The health-related quality of life (HRQL) after an attack of Guillain–Barré syndrome can be significantly impaired. About a fifth are unable to walk unaided after six months, and many experience chronic pain, fatigue and difficulty with work, education, hobbies and social activities.[33] HRQL improves significantly in the first year.[33]
Describe ALS
ALS is characterized by stiff muscles, muscle twitching, and gradually worsening weakness due to muscles decreasing in size.[2] This results in difficulty speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing.
The disease usually starts around the age of 60 and in inherited cases around the age of 50.[4] The average survival from onset to death is two to four years.[9] About 10% survive longer than 10 years.[5] Most die from respiratory failure.
Repeating phrases or gestures, apathy, and loss of inhibition are frequently reported behavioral features of ALS.[17] Language dysfunction, executive dysfunction, and troubles with social cognition and verbal memory are the most commonly reported cognitive symptoms in ALS
A defect on chromosome 21, which codes for superoxide dismutase, is associated with about 20% of familial cases of ALS
The defining feature of ALS is the death of both upper and lower motor neurons in the motor cortex of the brain, the brain stem, and the spinal cord. Prior to their destruction, motor neurons develop protein-rich inclusions in their cell bodies and axons. This may be partly due to defects in protein degradation
Describe MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged.[1] This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate,
Specific symptoms can include double vision, blindness in one eye, muscle weakness, trouble with sensation, or trouble with coordination.
Smoking has been shown to be an independent risk factor for MS.[
MS involves the loss of oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for creating and maintaining a fatty layer—known as the myelin sheath—which helps the neurons carry electrical signals (action potentials).
The three main characteristics of MS are the formation of lesions in the central nervous system (also called plaques), inflammation, and the destruction of myelin sheaths of neurons
Uhthoff’s phenomenon, a worsening of symptoms due to exposure to higher than usual temperatures, and Lhermitte’s sign, an electrical sensation that runs down the back when bending the neck, are particularly characteristic of MS.
the underlying mechanism is thought to be either destruction by the immune system or failure of the myelin-producing cells.[3] Proposed causes for this include genetics and environmental factors such as being triggered by a viral infection.[8]
Describe Lupus and causes
Common symptoms include painful and swollen joints, fever, chest pain, hair loss, mouth ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, feeling tired, and a red rash which is most commonly on the face. Often there are periods of illness, called flares, and periods of remission when there are few symptoms.[1]
People with discoid lupus may exhibit thick, red scaly patches on the skin. Similarly, subacute cutaneous lupus manifests as red, scaly patches of skin but with distinct edges. Acute cutaneous lupus manifests as a rash. Some have the classic malar rash (or butterfly rash) associated with the disease.[13] This rash occurs in 30 to 60% of people with SLE.[14]
It is believed to involve hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors.[4] Among identical twins, if one is affected there is a 24% chance the other one will be as well.[1] Female sex hormones, sunlight, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and certain infections, are also believed to increase the risk.[4] The mechanism involves an immune response by autoantibodies against a person’s own tissues. These are most commonly anti-nuclear antibodies and they result in inflammation.
Anemia is common in children with SLE[2
A person with SLE may have inflammation of various parts of the heart,
flammation of the pleurae known as pleurisy can rarely give rise to shrinking lung syndrome.
Can affect kidneys and CNS
Prognosis is typically worse for men and children than for women; however, if symptoms are present after age 60, the disease tends to run a more benign course. Early mortality, within 5 years, is due to organ failure or overwhelming infections, both of which can be altered by early diagnosis and treatment. T
