Ocular Complications of CT Disease (M2) Flashcards
connective tissue disease
term used to describe any disease where the body targets its own connective tissue - generally involves an immune response
CT disease symptoms
joint pain
various skin abnormalities
muscle weakness
problems with internal organs
CT disease detection
blood work
abnormal antibodies
CT disease management/treatment
managing, not curing.
directed at most severed symptoms.
- often steroids
__% of CT disease sufferers are women
80%
peak incidence of CT disease
teens to mid 20s
CT disease etiology
unknown - thought to be autoimmune
examples of connective tissue disease
rheumatoid arthritis
sjögren’s syndrom
systemic lupus erythematosous
marfan syndrom
ehlers-danlos syndrom
what is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
inflammatory arthritis associated with extra articular manifestations; wrist and hands.
inflammation and thickening of joint capsule.
may impact bones and cartilage
who is affected by RA
women 3x more common - genetic predisposition
RA symptoms
pain and swelling in joints that is worse after rest
RA diagnosis
blood work –> rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein, anti-CCP
RA ocular implications
dry eye syndrome most common:
- women 9x more commonly affected –> bc hormones assoc. with meibomian glands.
scleritis and episcleritis are 2nd most common:
- scleritis: deep intolerable boring pain, redness, photophobia, tenderness; start to have thinning of sclera
- episcleritis: painless red eye, minimal vision impact.
peripheral ulcerative keratitis: can lead to loss of the eye
RA treatment
RA: steroids (immune suppression), hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil).
ocular surface: artifical tears
what is Sjogren Syndrome (SS)
excessive dryness of eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes
SS etiology
unknown - WBC infiltrate and damage glands (lacrimal glands and goblet cells)
true or false: SS is one of the most under diagnosed CT diseases
true
SS diagnosis
labs: antinuclear antibody test, ANA, Sjo test, biopsy (of salivary gland)
who does SS affect
middle age women (lower estrogen levels)
SS symptoms
vary greatly - can be assoc. with RA, SLE, etc.
vision related: fluctuations or blur at end of day
SS ocular implications
dry eye syndrome
SS treatment
no cure!
SS: gum to enhance salivary production, pilocarpine, avoid antihistamines, decongestants.
dry eye management: artificial tears, restasis/xiidra, goggles, etc.
