Pathogenesis of autoimmune disease

Question 1

What is rheumatoid arthritis?and what causes it?

Answer 1

Chronic joint inflammation that can result in joint damage- it is caused by synovitis

Question 2

Where is the site of inflammation in Rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 2

Synovium

Question 3

Why is rheumatoid arthritis considered to be autoimmune?

Answer 3

It is associated with autoantibodies- rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies

Question 4

What is ankylosing spondylitis? and what is it caused by?

Answer 4

it is chronic inflammation that results in spinal fusion and deformity. it is caused by enthesitis

Question 5

Are the autoantibodies for ankylosing spondylitis?

Answer 5

No- it is described as seronegative

Question 6

What are the different types of seronegative spondyloarthropathies?

Answer 6

Ankylosing spondylitis
Reiters syndrome and reactive arthritis
Arthritis associated with psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis)
Arthritis associated with gastrointestinal inflammation (enteropathic synovitis)

Question 7

What is SLE?

Answer 7

Chronic tissue inflammation in the presence of antibodies directed against self-antigens

Question 8

Where are the different sites of SLE inflammation

Answer 8

Multi-site inflammation- particularly in joints, the skin and kidneys

Question 9

Is SLE associated with autoantibodies?

Answer 9

Yes- with antinuclear antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies.

Question 10

SLE is a type of connective disease. Name some other types of connective diseases

Answer 10

Inflammatory muscle disease: polymyositis, dermatomyositis
Systemic sclerosis
Sjogren’s syndrome
A mixture of the above: ‘Overlap syndromes’