Multisystem Connective Tissue Disease Flashcards
What is SLE?
Common autoimmune condition directed at a range of tissues
-unknown aetiology
What systems are involved in SLE?
Skin (75%) CNS (60%) Pulmonary (50%) Renal (30%) Cardiac (25%) Oral mucosal (20%) Haematological MSK
What is the most common feature of SLE?
Fatigue
What are the skin features of SLE?
Chronic discoid LE -red, scaly plaque on face/scalp Malar rash -symmetrical, raised erythematous rash across cheeks/bridge of nose Photosensitivity reactions Alopecia
What are the oral mucosal features of SLE?
Superficial erosions/ulcers
What are the CNS features of SLE?
Non-organic disorders (depression/anxiety)
Organic brain disorders (tonic-clonic epilepsy)
Vascular occlusion & infarction w/ APL syndrome
What are the renal features of SLE?
Glomerular disease
- follows many patterns
- commonly interstitial nephritis
What are the haematological features of SLE?
Thrombocytopenia
Leukopenia
AI haemolytic anaemia
-normocytic hypochromic anaemia
What are the MSK features of SLE?
Arthritis (90%)
-begins in fingers, wrists & knees
Myalgia (50%)
What are the pulmonary features of SLE?
Recurrent pleurisy & pleural effusions
Pulmonary fibrosis
What are the cardiac features of SLE?
Pericarditis
-rarer lesions are aortic valve lesions/cardiomyopathy
Atherosclerotic risk
What bloods are appropriate in suspected SLE?
FBC (normo hypo anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia) ESR/CRP (raised) U&Es Serum ANA/RF Anti-dsDNA RNa antibodies (anti Ro/anti-La) Serum complement levels APL antibodies
What investigations are appropriate in suspected SLE?
Bloods
Urine dip/BP
Histology (fibrinoid necrosis)
What are the management options for SLE?
Avoid excessive sunlight/CV risk factors
Monitor for signs of infection/treat early
MILD DISEASE
-NSAIDs & hydroxychloroquine
SEVERE DISEASE
-Prednisolone w/ DMARDs (azathioprine)
What is Antiphospholipid Syndrome?
Presence of autoantibodies that have a specificity for phospholipids
- thrombotic tendeny
- can be 1o or occur 2o to SLE
What are the common clinical features of APL syndrome?
Venous thrombosis (arms/legs, ?PE) Arterial thrombosis (less common, strokes in young ppl) Pregnancy loss (2nd/3rd trimester) Livedo reticularis Thrombocytopenia Migraines Epilepsy
What investigations may be appropriate in suspected APL syndrome?
ESR (normal)
ANA (-ve)
APTT (inc)
Coomb’s (+ve)
Anticardiolipin antibodies
-high titres on 2 occasions, >12wks apart
Lupus anticoagulant antibodies (+ve in 20%)
What are the management options for APL syndrome?
Warfarin (target INR 3-4) - if hx of severe thrombosis Low dose aspirin Lifestyle advice -avoid prolonged immobilisation -oestrogen containing drugs LMWH & aspirin given in pregnancy -early delivery planned
What is the long term prognosis of APL syndrome?
Poor
-1/3 have organ damage w/i 10yrs of diagnosis
What is primary Sjogren’s syndrome?
Dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) in absence of any autoimmune disease
What is secondary Sjogren’s syndrome?
Presence of sicca sx alongside AI disease
-most commonly RA, SLE, scleroderma or polymyositis
What phenotype is Sjogren’s associated with?
HLA-B8/DR3
How does Sjogren’s present?
Dry eyes & mouth Salivary/parotid gland enlargement Vaginal dryness Systemic features -arthralgia -raynaud's -oesophageal motility issues
What are the appropriate investigations in suspected Sjogren’s?
Schirmer tear test -filter paper placed inside lower eyelid -<1cm in 5mins = defective tear production Bloods -RF (raised) -ANA (raised) -anti-RO (+ve) -anti-LA (+ve)
What are the management options for Sjogren’s?
Artificial tears
Saliva-replacement
What is the prognosis for Sjogren’s?
Good
-salivary & lacrimal function stabilises
1/6 develop Non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma
What is systemic sclerosis?
Multisystem disease characterised by skin sclerosis & Reynaud’s disease
What is the underlying pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis?
Perivascular fibrosis leads to ischaemic damage
- skin most commonly affected (dermal thickening)
- major organs also affected (lung, heart, oesophagus, kidneys)
What are the two main subtypes of systemic sclerosis?
Limited cutaneous scleroderma (70%)
Diffuse cutaneous scleroderma (30%)
How do patients w/ limited cutaneous scleroderma present?
Long hx of Reynaud's & skin tightening at extremities -microstomia if face involved EARLY SX -systemic sx (fatigue) -GORD -ulcers on digital tips LATER SX -oesophageal sx -small bowel malabsorption -pulmonary fibrosis/pulmonary HTN
What are the management options for limited cutaneous scleroderma?
Digital sympathectomy/vasodilators (Reynaud’s)
Removal of calcinoses
Treatment of oesophageal problems
How do patients w/ diffuse cutaneous scleroderma present?
Short hx of Reynaud’s w/ rapidly progressive skin sclerosis
-peaks at 2yrs
Severe systemic sx (lethargy, wt loss, anorexia)
What are the common complications of diffuse cutaneous scleroderma?
Myocardial fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Renal fibrosis
OCCUR W/I 3 YEARS