Immunosuppression Flashcards
What is RA
Inflammatory issues round synovium = pannum. Systemic symptoms. erosive damage -> disability
• An autoimmune multi-system disease • Fairly common: UK prevalence 1%
• Initially localized to synovium
• Inflammatory change and proliferation of synovium (pannus) leading to dissolution of cartilage and bone
Describe the pathogenises of RA
Hyperactive immune system. Imbalance between pro and anti inflammatory. Get auto rheumatic diseas ehwen pro inflammatory mroe active than anti. Il-6, il-1, tnfa. Over expression of metalloproteinases leds to inflammation of joints
What are the symptoms of RA
Clinical criteria
• Morning stiffness >=1 hour
• Arthritis of >= 3 joints
• Arthritis of hand joints
• Symmetrical arthritis
• Rheumatoid nodules
Non-clinical criteria
• Serum rheumatoid factor/Anti-CCP antibodies
• X-ray changes
More joints inflamed = more severe symptoms. Nodules late bc treated early. Acpa
X ray changes typically abt 6mths-1 year into disease.
Regulation can affect children a young as 4.. a
What are the treatment goals for RA
Symptomatic relief
Prevention of joint destruction
Describe teh treatment strategy for RA
- Early use of disease-modifying drugs
- Aim to achieve good disease control
- Use of adequate dosages
- Use of combinations of drugs
- Avoidance of long-term corticosteroids
Describe sle
Ss, No organ is spared. Can affect any organ - widespread. A disease of women f childbearing age.
Describe asuclitis
LFTS - leucocytic infiltrates, fibrinoid nicrocsis , thrombosis
What are he treatment goals in sle ad vasculitis
- Symptomatic relief e.g arthralgia, Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Reduction in mortality
- Prevention of organ damage
- Reduction in long term morbidity caused by disease and by drugs
What are some immunosuppressants
- Corticosteroids • Methotrexate
- Azathioprine
- Ciclosporin
- Tacrolimus
- Mycophenolate mofetil • Leflunomide
- Cyclophosphamide
Describe teh moa do corticosteroids
• Prevent interleukin IL-1 and IL-6 production by macrophages
• Inhibit all stages of T-cell activation
Heatshcok protein complex - glucocorticoid interacts with this - goes into nucleus - chin of events - not very targeted
What are steroid side effects
Teroi side effects - many systems. Side effects - accelerates old age - cataracts, MI, stroke, raised cholesterol, tru cal obesity, buffalo hump, osteoporosis, diabetes
What are demands
Non-biologics (cheaper but just as effective)
• Sulphasalazine
• Hydroxychloroquine
Biologics
• Anti-TNF agents
• Rituximab
• IL-6 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors
What is azathioprine
• SLE & vasculitis -as maintenance therapy
• RA–veryweakevidence
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Bullous skin disease
Atopic dermatitis
• Many other uses as ‘steroid sparing’ drug - This allows to cu short the exposure to steroids if used first
Describe the pd of azathioprne
- 6-MP is metabolized by thiopurine - Tpmt converts aaa to 6mp methyltransferase (TPMT)
- TPMT gene highly polymorphic
- Individuals vary markedly in TPMT activity
- Low/absent TPMT levels = Risk of myelosupression
- Therefore test TPMT activity before prescribing
Describe teh azthiprine moa
• Cleaved to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
• anti-metabolite decreases DNA and RNA synthesis
Ss
Suppress immunity. Decreases dna and rna synthesis. If you shut down synthesis , inflammation reduces