Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flashcards
Describe SLE.
A chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple organ systems.
Patients who suffer from SLE often develop numerous ___.
autoantibodies.
SLE causes immune complexes to form, triggering ___ activation, which are chemotaxis of neutrophils and inflammation.
Cā.
What is the most common clinical manifestation of SLE?
Joint involvement.
What secondary clinical manifestations may occur with SLE?
Skin rashes; renal involvement; neurologic symptoms; anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.
What are the predicted CBC results of a SLE patient?
Decreased WBC;
Normal to decreased RBC and platelets.
What additional testing is used to detect SLE?
Urinalysis; CRP/ESR; complement quantitation; ANAs.
How is CRP affected by SLE.
Elevated in flare ups.
Complement C3 is ___ during inflammation.
decreased.
Why is complement C3 decreased during inflammation with SLE patients?
The complement is being used to form immune complexes.
Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are present in more than 95% of lupus patients, but it is not ___.
Specific.
What autoantibody is specific to lupus?
Anti-ds DNA.
What are the pros of fluorescent ANA testing in SLE patients?
Sensitive; able to detect a wide range of antibodies; easy to run and interpret; inexpensive.
What are the 5 results of fluorescent ANA testing?
Homogeneous; Rim; Speckled; Nucleolar; Centromere.
Describe the homogenous (diffuse) FANA staining patterns.
Uniform staining of entire nucleus in interphase cells and condensed chromosomal region in metaphase.
