SLE Case and booklet Flashcards
1
Q
What is lupus?
A
- AI disease
- Inadequate T cell suppressor activtity with increased B cell activity
- Most patients have antibodies to certain cell nucleus components
- Multisystem disease
2
Q
Is SLE constant?
A
No - remission and flares
Can be familial
3
Q
Common symptoms and signs of SLE
A
- Serositis - pleurisy and pericarditis
- Oral ulcers - painless, palate most specific
- Arthiritis - small joints, nonerosive
- Photosensitivity - or malar or discoid rash
- Blood disorders - low WCC, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia
- Renal involvement - GN
- Autoantibodies (ANA +ve in more than 90%)
- Immunoligic tests - low complements
- Neurologic disorder - seizures or psychosis
SOAP BRAIN
4
Q
Investigations for SLE
A
- Raised ESR or plasma viscosity
- FBC - Anaemia and leukopenia
- AI bloods
- Urinalysis - renal disease
- Skin biopsy
- Renal biopsy
5
Q
What do antiphospholipid antibodies increase risk of?
A
- Pregnancy loss
- Thrombosis
6
Q
What happens to C3 and C4 in SLE?
A
- Fall with disease severity
7
Q
Autoimmune bloods for SLE
A
- Anti-nuclear antibody +ve
- Anti-Ro, Anti-La
- Anti ds-DNA rise with disease severity
- Antiphospholipid antibodies
8
Q
Treatment for SLE
A
- Sun protection
- Advice on healthy lifestyle in view of CVS risk
- Hydroxychloroquine for rash and arthralgia
- Mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and rituximab are used too
9
Q
What is used in SLE flares?
A
Prednisolone
10
Q
Peak age onset SLE
A
Early adulthood
11
Q
Oestrogen and autoimmune
A
- Estradiol may prolong the life of autoreactive B and T lymphocytes
12
Q
UV and SLE
A
- UV light triggers SLE
- Alters DNA structure in the dermis which renders it more immunogenic
13
Q
Drugs that trigger SLE like syndrome
A
- Isoniazid
- Minocycline
- TNF inhibitors
14
Q
CRP in SLE?
A
Normal - but ESR and plasma viscosity
15
Q
High risk with SLE
A
High CVD risk
