Managing skin disorders in systemic disease Flashcards
Pancytopenia
Deficiency of all blood components
-> RBC, WBC, platelets
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Measures the speed of RBC settling in tube
The higher the ESR, the greater the inflammation
What is a punch biopsy
Skin sample sent to histology to check for antibodies and tissue culture
Types of lupus erythematosus
SLE - Systemic lupus erythematosus
CLE - Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (Discoid)
Overlap between lupus types
SCLE - Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
What are the regions of systemic effects in systemic lupus erythematosus?
HOMI
Haematology (low blood cells) - Haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia (^ESR)
Organs - serositis, synovitis, arthritis, renal + neural issues
Mucocutaneous - ulcers, alopecia
Immunological - ANA (anti-nuclear antibody), Anti-dsDNA (double stranded)
What are some of the signs of lupus erythematosus?
Chilblains (itchy swelling),
Photodistributed rash,
Cutaneous vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation)
Livedo reticularis (discoloration due to disturbed blood flow)
Palpable purpura
Alopecia
What is the characteristic feature of cutaneous lupus erythematosus?
Scarring, especially of the face
alopecia
What presentation allows immediate diagnosis of neonatal lupus
Subacute cutaneous lupus
Anti-ro/la antibodies
ring like/ annular pattern
What is the risk of neonatal lupus patients?
50% risk heart block
ECG required upon diagnosis
Investigations for SLE
FBC
U&E,
ANA,
anti-dsDNA,
complement,
urinalysis
Alanine transaminase
ALT, indicates liver damage
investigation for dermatomyositis
What is dermatomyositis?
Autoimmune connective tissue disease
What are the two main effects of dermatomyositis?
Proximal Extensor Myopathy
Photodistributed Pink-Violet Rash
Signs of dermatomyositis
Ragged cuticles
Shawl sign - rash of the upper trunk
Heliotrope rash - round eyes
Gottron’s papules - red plaques on DIP,MCPs
What is the relevance of the different autoantibodies
They predict the subtype and clinical features
What autoantibodies are common in dermatomyositis?
Malignancy - anti-p155
Interstitial lung disease/ulcers/ischaemia - anti-MDA5
Investigations for diagnosing dermatomyositis
ANA - antinuclear antibody, indicator of autoimmunity
CK - indicates muscular degeneration
Skin biopsy
LFT (ALT) - Liver fct w/ alanine transaminase
EMG - Electromyography, measures muscle response to electric activity
Screening for internal malignancy
What antibody is usually involved in vasculitis?
IgA
What are the features of IgA vasculitis?
Abdominal pain, GI bleeding, glomerulonephritis, arthritis
What is interesting about vasculitis
Affects dif sized vessels w/ dif effects for each
small - Purpura(macular/palpable), caused by internal bleeding
medium - digital necrosis
- subcutaneous nodules along blood vessels
- retiform purpura ulcers
What is sarcoidosis?
Non-infectious systemic granulomatous disorder, affects multiple organ systems esp lungs