Connective tissue diseases Flashcards
what inflammatory cell is associated with connective tissue diseases
autoantibodies
are connective tissue disease more common in males or females
females
what are the connective tissue diseases (6)
systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) sjorgens syndrome systemic sclerosis mixed connective tissue disease polymyositis (a muscle disease) anti-phospholipid syndrome
what is the general treatment for mild connective tissue disease (3)
steroids (short term)
NSAIDs
hydroxychloroquine
what is the general treatment for joint inflammation associated with connective tissue disease (2)
DMARDs (eg methotrexate)
steroids (short term)
what is the general treatment for severe connective tissue disease (2)
high dose steroids (short term)
immunosuppression
what is the female:male ratio in SLE
9:1
what group of people are most likely to have SLE (sex and age)
women of child bearing age aged 20-30, (to do with hormones)
is SLE rare or common
rare but well known
what process increases at the start of SLE pathogenesis
apoptosis
increased apoptosis results in … in SLE
increased autoantibody production (to try and clear up dead cells that are floating about)
what is the consequence of increased autoantibody production in SLE
increased immune response
what are the 3 stages of SLE pathogenesis
increased apoptosis
autoantibody production
unnecessary immune response
what happens when all these immune complexes are gathered for no reason in SLE
they collect in blood vessels, skin, kidneys etc = cause inflammation
what type of hypersensitivity reaction is SLE
type III
how does SLE present (11)
LOTS OF THINGS SO HARD TO DIAGNOSE, red flags; butterfly malar rash fever malaise weight loss painless mouth/nasal ulcers inflammatory arthritis blood problems neuro problems anti phospholipid syndrome renal problems - lupus nephritis photosensitivity
SLE investigations and findings for diagnosis (3)
ANA (anti nuclear antibody) positive
anti-dsDNA (anti double stranded DNA) positive
anti-sm positive
+more
what is the normal ratio of ANA
what is the ration of ANA in SLE
low - 1:160 or 1:80
> 1:80
is ANA specific to SLE
does ANA vary with disease progression in SLE
no present in other autoantibody conditions
no, either positive or negative
is anti-dsDNA specific to SLE
does anti-dsDNA vary with disease progression in SLE
yes
yes - increases during flares, but always positive
which antibody test is best for SLE
anti-dsDNA (though ANA and anti-sm are also pretty good)
what investigation can diagnosis a SLE flare up
what happens to the levels during a flare up
complement 4 (C4)
decrease during flare up
which disease do you ALWAYS want to screen for after diagnosis of SLE
why
kidney disease
it is asymptomatic
how do you screen for kidney disease in SLE after diagnosis
urinalysis
how is SLE diagnosed
need 4 positive findings which are a mixture of presentation and immunological criteria
SLE treatment (4)
hydroxychloroquine
short term steroids - topical/PO/IV depending on severity
immunosuppressants (azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide) if moderate/severe
rituximab (biologics) if severe
what happens to a patients SLE during pregnancy
gets worse so warn them
complications of SLE/treatment
infection (form steroids/immunosuppression)
anti phospholipid syndrome
are people likely to die if they get SLE
no, 90% 10 year survival
what diseases can sjogrens syndrome be secondary to (2)
rheumatoid arthritis
SLE