Connective Tissue Disease Flashcards
What is the ratio of females:males in Lupus
9:1
In what ethnic groups is the prevalence of lupus higher?
Asians
Afro-Americans
Afro-Caribbeans
What factors contribute to the aetiology of lupus?
Genetic factors:
- monozygotic twins
- increased incidence amongst relatives
Hormonal factors:
- higher oestrogen exposure
(e. g. on oestrogen contraceptives or HRT)
Describe the pathogenesis of Lupus
1) Increased and defective apoptosis
2) Necrotic cells release nuclear material which act as auto-antigens
3) Exposure to nuclear and intra-cellular auto-antigens
= B and T cells are stimulated
4) Auto-antibodies produced
What is responsible for the renal disease in lupus?
Deposition of immune complexes in mesangium
Cytokine release = inflammation which causes necrosis and scarring in kidneys
What systems are included in the SLE classification?
Mucocutaneous Musculoskeletal (Serositis) Renal Neurological Haematological
What constitutional symptoms are often present in lupus
Fever Malaise Poor appetite Weight loss Fatigue
What symptoms can show mucocutaneous involvement in lupus?
Photosensitivity Malar rash Discoid lupus erythematosus Subacute cutaneous lupus Mouth ulcers Alopecia
Give examples of the musculoskeletal features of Lupus
- Non-deforming polyarthritis/polyarthralgia
- Deforming arthropathy - Jaccoud’s arthritis
- Myopathy - weakness, myalgia and myositis
What features of lupus are classified as serositis?
Pericarditis
Pleurisy
Pleural effusion
Pericardial effusion
What two things should be noted on urinanalysis to determine if there is renal involvement in lupus?
Protein
Blood (red cell casts seen on microscopy)
What level of protein in the urine would indicate lupus?
Proteinuria of >500mg in 24 hours
What neurological symptoms can be present in lupus
Depression/psychosis Migrainous headache Seizures Cranial or peripheral neuropathy Mononeuritis multiplex
What haematogical disorders are associated with lupus?
Lymphadenopathy (enlarged nodes) Leucopenia (low leukocytes) Lymphopenia (low lymphocytes) Haemolytic anaemia Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
What are the features of anti-phospholipid syndrome
- Venous and arterial thrombosis
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Thrombocytopenia
- Prolonged APTT
Association with other autoimmune conditions especially SLE
What factors make antiphospholipid patients susceptible to infection?
Intrinsic factors:
- Low complements
- Impaired cell mediated immunity
- Defective phagocytosis
- Poor antibody response to certain antigens
Extrinsic factors
- Steroids
- Other immunosuppressive drugs
- Nephrotic syndrome
Is anti-nuclear antibody specific to Lupus?
No
it can be positive in low titres (1:160) in up to 20% of the population
Other than ANA, what other auto-antibodies are associated with lupus?
Anti-dsDNA
Anti-Sm
Anti-Ro
Anti-RNP
What antibody is most specific to lupus?
Anti-dsDNA
The titre of Anti-dsDNA decreases when disease activity increases TRUE/FALSE
Titre correlates with overall disease activity
What features can Anti-Ro antibody cause?
- Cutaneous manifestations
- Secondary Sjogren’s features
- Congenital heart block and neonatal Lupus
What auto-antibodies are associated with antiphospholipid syndrome
- Anti-cardiolipin antibody
- Lupus anticoagulant
- Anti-beta 2 glycoprotein