Lupus Flashcards

1
Q

Characteristics of lupus

A

Multi-organ autoimmune disease

Affects young women

Responds well to treatment

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2
Q

Why is lupus characterised as a condition with wide clinical presentations?

A

Autoantibodies directed to self molecules all around the body

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3
Q

What are the symptoms of Lupus?

A

General fatigue - fever, weight loss

Joint pains

Muscle pains

Rash - facial butterfly

Mouth ulcers

Vascular inflammation

Organ involvement

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4
Q

What is a condition typical in lupus that leads to joint pains?

A

Symmetrical arthritis in small joints

Rarely causes destructive changes

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5
Q

How common is the facial butterfly amongst lupus patients?

A

Affects 85% of patients

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6
Q

What are examples of vascular inflammation triggered in lupus patients?

A

Raynaud’s - loss of circulation when exposed to cold

Vasculitis - more severe and permanent

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7
Q

What are common organs involved in lupus?

A

Renal damage - glomerulonephritis

CNS problems - neuropathy, stroke, migraine, epilepsy

Lungs

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8
Q

Does genetics play a big role in the susceptibility of the disease?

A

Yes

HLA class II genes are well established to be source of autoimmunity

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9
Q

What is the progression of the disease?

A

Patient is healthy in early years

Environmental trigger initiates disease progression

Initially innate IS

Then adaptive IS

Onset of clinical disease is amplified as years progress

Irreversible tissue damage occurs

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10
Q

What is lupus characterised by?

A

Persistent autoimmune process that is aberrantly controlled and results in autoimmune phenotype

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11
Q

What are the triggers of lupus?

A

Viral infections

Hormonal changes - pregnancy, contraceptive

Sunlight

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12
Q

Most types of treatments aimed at lupus are educational

TRUE or FALSE

A

TRUE

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13
Q

Treatments for SLE

A

Sunblock/ infection/ fertility

Steroids

Antimalarial

Immunosuppressants

Biological agents

Protection of CVD risk

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14
Q

Why do antimalarial drugs improve survival of lupus patients?

A

Improves long-term survival by impairing organ involvement

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15
Q

What are the biological agents used to treat lupus?

A

Biological agents are used to target components of the immune system

Rituximab - antibody against CD20 on B cells

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16
Q

How can you protect against CVD risk in lupus patients?

A

Avoid risk factors

Do blood tests

17
Q

What is the goal of lupus treatments?

A

Preserve life and organs of patients

18
Q

What is the problem with lupud treatments?

A

Since they only preserve organs instead of treating the uderlying cause of the damage there is sill risk of

Infection

Coronary artery disease

Fatigue