Connective Tissue Disease Flashcards

1
Q

who is lupus most common in?

A

mostly women
afro-caribbeans
afro-americans
Asians uncommon in black africans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what are the contributing factors

A

genetic predisposition
environmental factors
immunological factors
humoral factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what genetic factors affect lupus?

A

high concordance in monozygotic twins

and relatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what hormonal factors can influence lupus?

A

increased incidence in people with higher oestrogen exposure - early menarche, on oestrogen containing contraceptives and HRT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

pathogenesis of lupus?

A

defective apoptosis = dead cells aren’t cleared properly and their material which is released floats around the body for too long (acts as auto-antigens)
immune system activates T and B cells and develops antibodies against these
antibodies attack dead cell material as well as healthy cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

how does lupus cause renal disease?

A

deposition of immune complexes in mesangium/walls of blood vessels and activate complement which attracts leukocytes (e.g neutrophils) which release cytokines
cytokines perpetuate inflammation which cause necrosis and scarring
results in non functioning kidney

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what drives lupus disease?

A

immune complex formation

= hypersensitivity type 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

is B cell function normal?

A

no

producing auto-antibodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

common clinical features of lupus?

A
skin involvement
mucosal involvement
alopecia
joint involvement
serositis (pleura, pericardium involvement)
renal involvement
neurological (brain fog > seizures)
haemolytic anaemia
leukopenia (low WCC)
thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what parts of FBC may be altered in lupus?

A

all of them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what are some common constitutional symptoms of lupus?

A
fever
malaise
poor appetite
weight loss
fatigue
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

name some mucocutaneous features of lupus?

A
photosensitivity - malar rash
discoid lupus erythematous
subacute cutaneous lupus
mouth ulcers
alopecia (hair on the pillow)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

how do lupus rashes appear?

A

hours-days after sun exposure and last for weeks

sparing of fold between face and nose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is discoid lupus?

A

rash with coin shaped lesions

can often be a separate disease - not systemic lupus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

MSK features of lupus?

A

joint pain or inflammation (often in smaller joints)
muscle pain, weakness or inflammation
deforming and non-deforming arthropathy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is Jaccoud’s arthritis?

A

type of deforming arthropathy
normal X ray
looks like rheumatoid deformity from outside but has normal joints
due to laxity of ligaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is serositis?

A

inflammation of the pericardium or pleura

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what can occur in serositis?

A

pleural effusion
pericardial effusion
pericarditis
pleurisy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

renal features of lupus?

A

tends to cause no symptoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

clinical signs of renal disease?

A

proteinuria (>500mg)
haematuria sometimes
red cell casts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is red cell cast a sign of?

A

glomerulonephritis

- renal disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

next step if high protein found in urine?

A

renal biopsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

neurological features of lupus?

A
depression/psychosis
migranes
seizures
cranial or peripheral neuropathy
mononeuritis multiplex (inflammation of blood supply to a long nerve causing a palsy)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

MRI features of naeurological disease?

A

white spots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

haematological features of lupus?

A
lymphadenopathy
leucopenia
lymphopenia
haemolytic anaemia
thrombocytopenia
often not that low so don't really cause much of a problem
26
Q

what is anti-phospholipid syndrome?

A

causes blood clots in veins and arteries
can cause recurrent miscarriage
associated with lupus

27
Q

what does anti-phospholipid syndrome look like?

A

mottling of skin

= livido reticularis

28
Q

are lupus patients more pron to infection?

A

yes

due partly to features of disease but a lot to do with immunosuppressive treatment

29
Q

what intrinsic factors cause susceptibility to infection in lupus?

A

low complement
impaired cell mediated immunity
defective phagocytosis
poor antibody response to certain antigens

30
Q

aims of lupus investigation?

A

confirm diagnosis

determine degree of organ involvement

31
Q

how good an indicator of lupus is ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies)?

A

present in low levels in 20% of population
present in high levels in 98% of lupus
sensitive but not specific

32
Q

when should an ANA positive result be taken seriously?

A

if others are present

if the patient has clinical features and symptoms

33
Q

what antibodies are associated with lupus?

A

anti- dsDNA (most important)
anti - Sm
anti - Ro
anti - RNP

34
Q

how does anti- dsDNA present?

A

in 60% of lupus patients
highly specific
can go up and down with activity of disease
can be associated with renal disease

35
Q

how does anti-Ro present?

A

60% of lupus patients

associated with cutaneous problems and congenital heart block

36
Q

what are the 2 anti ENA antibodies?

A

Anti Sm - neurological involvement

ANti RNP - overlap features

37
Q

3 antibodies of anti-phospholipid syndrome?

A

anti-cardiolipin antibody
lupus anticoagulant
anti-beta 2 glycoprotein
must be positive on 2 occasions 12 weeks apart for diagnosis

38
Q

what is the most sensitive auto antibody for lupus?

A

anti - double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody

39
Q

how do anti dsDNA levels change?

A

titre rises when disease is active or flaring

40
Q

first test after lupus diagnosis?

A

urinalysis (must test for renal involvement first!)

41
Q

what other tests are used in lupus?

A

depend on symptoms

i.e - chest involvement = CXR

42
Q

what would indicate that someone is experiencing a flare of their lupus?

A

fall in complement levels as its being consumed

43
Q

what inflammatory markers vary in lupus?

A

ESR

plasma viscosity

44
Q

does ANA levels correlate to disease activity?

A

no

45
Q

how can activity of SLE be monitored?

A
clinical assessment
anti dsDNA
C3/4 levels
urine examination
FBC
blood biochemistry
46
Q

general management of lupus?

A

counselling
regular monitoring
avoid excessive sun exposure
pregnancy issues

47
Q

SLE drug treatment?

A

hydroxychloroquine = MAIN
NSAIDs and simple analgesia
steroids (only for short periods of time)
Immunosuppressives if anything more than mild

48
Q

how do steroids work in SLE?

A

dose related to the severity of the disease

only used short term (few weeks) usually for flare up

49
Q

what other drugs can be used?

A

biologics

  • anti CD20 rituximab
  • anti Blys (belimumab)
50
Q

treatment for mild SLE?

A

HCQ
topical steroids
NSAIDs

51
Q

treatment for moderate SLE?

A

oral steroids
azathioprine
methotrexate

52
Q

treatment for severe SLE?

A

IV steroids
cyclophosphamide
rituximab
belimumab

53
Q

what goes down when anti dsDNA levels go up?

A

complement

54
Q

first line tests for suspected SLE?

A

urinalysis
anti dsDNA
complement
FBC

55
Q

pain in one side of chest in lupus patients?

A

possible PE due to anti- phospholipid syndrome

56
Q

PE X ray?

A

normal

57
Q

lupus anticoagulant indicates what?

A

anti-phospholipid syndrome

58
Q

what is cyclophosphamide?

A

potent immunosuppressive

59
Q

what are connective tissue diseases?

A

not diseases of connective tissue
spontaneous over activity of the immune system with specific auto antibodies
evolve over years and lead to organ failure/death

60
Q

what is lupus?

A

systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body
immune system attacks body cells and tissue causing inflammation and tissue damage