General Pathology (autoimmune & immunodeficiency diseases / neoplasia) Flashcards
autoimmune diseases
break down of tolerance of AG on own cells (SELF-AG)
diagnosis of autoimmune disease
auto-Antibodies
immune mechanisms cause pathological lesions
can be difficult to find evidence of immune nature of disorder
“pathogenicity difficult to prove”
AI disease genetic factor
increased frequency via Family history
genetic component
more common in
women
E.g.
SLE
RA
systemic vs localized
can be systemic or local
how localized?
E.g. of systemic (multi-organ) AI disease
systemic lupus erythematosus
rheumatic fever
rheumatoid arthritis
systemic sclerosis
polyarteritis nodosa
E.g. of AI diseases limited to single organ (more localized)
multiple sclerosis (CNS)
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (thyroid)
Grave’s disease (thyroid)
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (blood)
Pemphigus vulgaris (skin)
Myasthenia Gravis (muscle)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
“prototype of AI disease”
multisystemic
1/2500 people
10x more common in women
genetic component (family history?)
more common in young adults
but can happen any age
signs symptoms
CNS symptoms
pattern baldness
butterfly rash
Endocarditis, Pericarditis
Pleuritis, Pneumonitis
lupus nephritis
raynaud’s phenomenon
myositis, arthritis
osteoporosis
splenomegaly
lymphadenopathy (lymph nodes, aka lymph glands)
anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
pathogenesis SLE
poorly understood
Malfunction of T suppressor cells which allows polyclonal activation of B cells
“Plasma cells derived from uncontrolled B cell clones secrete antibodies against autoantigens and foreign antigens”
“Many antibodies to DNA, RNA and nuclear proteins = called antinuclear antibodies (ANA)”
antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
“The antinuclear antibody (ANA) is a defining feature of autoimmune connective tissue disease. ANAs are a class of antibodies that bind to cellular components in the nucleus, including proteins, DNA, RNA, and nucleic acid-protein complexes.”
Agab complexes during SLE
Antigens that reach circulation form complexes with antibodies in the serum
“Circulating Ab-Ag complexes deposited in membranes e.g. synovial membrane, serous membranes, endocardium, choroid plexus, ant. eye chamber”
E.g.
synovial membrane (joints)
serous membranes (heart, lungs, abdomen)
endocardium
choroid plexus (brain)
anterior eye chamber (eyes)
atnerior eye chamber sle
“Anterior uveitis in patients with SLE is usually mild and rarely leads to a deterioration in visual acuity, and also may present as synechiae or a fibrinous inflammatory exudate in the anterior chamber of the eye.”
complement system activation vs immune complexes
“Immune complexes are large and retained and activate complement, which elicits an inflammatory reaction resulting in many organ-specific inflammatory diseases”
e.g.
glomerulnonephritis,
arthritis,
etc
clinical features sle
variable
Inflammation of joints (arthritis) – most common; redness, swelling, pain
Kidney involvement (75%)
Cutaneous lesions (butterfly rash) (30-60%)
Damage to RBCs causing anemia
Enlargement of lymph nodes and spleen
treatment sle
Corticosteroids
cyclophosphamide (immunosuppressive)
cyclophosphamide
“a synthetic cytotoxic drug used in treating leukemia and lymphoma and as an immunosuppressive agent.”
sle and kidneys
kidney transplant as treatment if kidneys severely affected
immunodeficiency
Primary (congenital) or
secondary (due to infections, metabolic diseases, cancer, or treatment/chemotherapy, etc.)
which type of immunodeficiency more common
secondary
cancer, infection, chemotherapy, metabolic disease
E.g. of secondary immunodeficiency
AIDS
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
involvement of B/T cells vs entire immune system
Primary or secondary may involve just B cells or T cells
or may be generalized and involve the whole immune system
how are ID diseases characterized
All ID diseases are characterized by lymphopenia – low lymphocyte count in peripheral blood
lymphopenia
low lymphocyte count in peripheral blood