Multi-System Disease Flashcards
Describe the aetiology of SLE
Not fully understood
Loss of tolerance to self
production of immune complexes - autoantibodies and antigens
These are the deposited in affected organs
How might SLE present?
CONSTITUTIONAL SYMTPOMS
fever, fatigue, weight loss
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
ulceration of hard palate
SKIN
acute lupus malar rash with sparing of nasolabial folds
ALOPECIA
REYANUDS PHENOMENON
VASCULITIS
RENAL
~50% of patients, lupus nephritis
LUNG
pleuritis, pneumonitis, ILD, pulmonary HTN, alveolar haemorrhage
CARDIAC
pericarditis, non-infective endocarditis (Libman Sacks Syndrome), myocarditis, CAD
NEURO
cognitive dysfunction, delirium, psychosis, seizures, headache, peripheral neuropathies
OPTHALMOLOGIC
keratoconjunctivitis sicca (secondary sjogrens)
HAEMATOLOGIC
anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly
GI TRACT
oesophagitis, lupus hepatitis, acute pancreatitis
Describe Jaccoud’s Arthropathy
Seen in 90-95% of patients with Lupus at some point in the disease
Deforming NON-EROSIVE Arthropathy
Characterised by ulnar deviation of the 2nd - 5th fingers with MCP subluxation
Thought to be caused by ligamentous laxity
when hand relaxed - looks normal
when patient tries to move hands and use ligaments - hand looks deformed
What are the 6 screening questions you should ask in a patient who you suspect CTD?
Hair Loss Dry Eyes Rashes (esp photosensitive) Mouth Ulcers Raynauds Joint Pains
What could you argue is one of the most important tests in a patient with SLE to look at disease activity
Urine Dipstick
= MUST TEST - FIRST SIGN OF RENAL INVOLVEMENT
look for proteinuria and haematuria for nephritis
What specific blood test results would you expect to see in a patient with SLE?
Anti-nuclear antibody ANAs (increased - useful in distinguishing SLE from other CTDs)
Anti ds DNA antibody (increased in active disease)
Complement levels (decrease in active disease)
Lymphocytes (classically reduced in active lupus)
How do you diagnose anti-phospholipid syndrome?
AT LEAST ON CLINICAL FEATURE
Vascular event e.g. DVT, VTE, stroke, TIA
Pregnancy morbidity including fetal death after 10 weeks gestation, pre-eclampsia or placental insufficiency, multiple (3 or more) embryonic losses (
List the aetiology of antiphosphlipid syndrome
Can be PRIMARY
Or SECONDARY - most commonly to SLE
should always ask SLE patients if they have a history of VTE or pregnancy morbidity
To diagnose SLE you need 4 out of 11 of the diagnostic criteria (at least one clinical and one immunologic), what are the 11 diagnostic criteria?
1- Malar Rash
2 - Discoid Rash
3- Photosensitivity
4- Oral Ulcers
5 - Non-erosive arthritis
6 - Serositis e.g. pleuritis, pericarditis
7 - Renal Disorder - persistent proteinuria or cellular clasts
8 - CNS Disorder - seizures or psychosis
9 - Haematological Disorder - haemolytic anaemia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia
10 - Immunological Disorder anti dsDNA antibody
11 - ANA positive
If the APTT is prolonged in a patient with ?antiphopholipid antibody syndrome, what further test should be done?
A lupus anticoagulant effect that effects APTT will not correct in a mixing study with normal plasma, then do dRRVT (will also be prolonged)
What patient population does SLE usually affect?
Women of child bearing age
Describe Reynauds Phenomenon
Episodic vasospasm of extremities triggered by cold and emotional stress, fingers go white (decreased circulation due to vasospasm), then blue (as recirculated blood is deoxygenised very quickly to hypoxic tissue) and then painful and red (as tissues go back to normal)
Primary Reynauds is common 6-10% of general population
Secondary Reynauds has many causes
List some of the causes of Secondary Reynauds and when are you more likely to think of a secondary cause?
CHEMICAL OR DRUG EXPOSURE
e.g. beta blockers, COCP, chemotherapy
OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL DISORDERS
e.g. external compression, carpal tunnel syndrome, buergers disease, thrombosis and embolization
OCCUPATION
e.g. vibrating machinery, cold
INTRAVASCULAR
e.g. ploycythemia vera, leukaemia, thrombocytosis,
MISCELLANEOUS
e.g. malignancy, anorexia nervosa
INCREASING AGE OF ONSET - more likely to be pathological process than primary.
Describe the spectrum of scleroderma
Localized Scleroderma -Thickening of skin and dermis
Systemic Sclerosis
Limited Systemic Sclerosis (CREST)
Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis
Describe the clinical features of LIMITED SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Formerly known as CREST syndrome - anti centromere
Calcinosis (deposits of calcium phosphate in fingertips)
Raynauds
E(oesophageal dysmotility)
Sclerodactyly (distal) + scleroderma face and neck
Telangectasia
(now can also get pulmonary hypertension, fibrotic lung disease and mid gut disease)
Describe the clinical features of DIFFUSE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Raynauds Digital Ulceration Scleroderma proximal to elbows Interstitial Lung Disease GI Renal Cardiac Scl-70 and RNA polymerase III antibodies
If you had a patient with Reynauds, what test could you do to look for progression to systemic sclerosis?
Nail Fold Capillaroscopy - changes very strongly associated with progression to systemic sclerosis.
Why do you have to be careful when prescribing steroids in a patient with systemic sclerosis?
Can precipitate a RENAL CRISIS
Hypertension, rapidly deteriorating renal function, flash pulmonary oedema, seizures
Can protect patients from this by giving them ACE inhibitors
Describe what is meant by Sicca Symptoms
Lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands
Mucosal Dryness - eyes, mouth, larynx, pharynx and vagina
What are the causes of Sicca Symptoms?
Primary Sjogrens Syndrome
most strongly associated - systemic autoimmune
Secondary Sjogrens Syndrome
e.g. to RA, SLE, systemic sclerosis, MCTD
What disease are people with Primary Sjogrens Syndrome at a 20% increased risk from?
Lymphoma (often MALT - mucosal associated lymphoma)
What symptoms do you get in Primary Sjogrens Syndrome?
Fatigue Dry Eyes Dry Mouth Vaginal Dryness Parotid and Submandibular Gland Swelling
What is the typical autoantibody profile of Primary Sjogrens Syndrome?
RF+ ANA+ anti Ro + anti La+ IgG++++ ESR ++++ (>100)
What investigations can be done to investigate Primary Sjogrens Syndrome?
Autoantibodies Schirmer Test Parotid and submandicular gland USS Minor labial gland biopsy Salivary Flow
Myalgia is commonly associated with many autoimmune diseases, what symptoms would make you more concerned and make you think of an inflammatory myopathy?
Muscle Weakness (usually proximal and symmetrical) Raised Muscle Enzymes
Describe the salient points of polymyositis
Inflammation of striated muscle Proximal Muscle Weakness Distal muscles spared until late disease Occular muscles usually spared NO RASH Creatine Kinase raised, also AST and ALT (produced by muscle) 20% have Jo-1 mutation - should be investigated for interstitial lung disease Definitive Test = muscle biopsy