Systemic Sclerosis + Sjogrens Flashcards
What forms the CREST syndrome
Calcinosis cutis Raynaud's phenomenon Esophageal dysmotility Sclerodactyly Telangiectasia
Note CREST = limited Scleroderma
What is sine scleroderma
Typical features of systemic sclerosis (usually features of limited subtype) without sclerosis or thickening of skin
What is the epidemiology of systemic sclerosis
More common in females 3:1
Peak age of onset 40-60
More common in African Americans (tends to be diffuse and more severe disease)
What are the 3 pathogenic features of systemic sclerosis
- Vascular injury
- Cellular and humeral autoimmunity
- autoantibodies, T cells found in skin biopsies - Progressive and vascular fibrosis
- widespread tissue fibrosis with accumulation of type 1 collagen
What are 3 differentiating features of limited systemic sclerosis
- Slowly progressive skin disease limited to distal extremities, occasionally face
- does not extend above elbows - Long history of Raynaud’s prior to other manifestations
- Late pulmonary HTN, GI/malabsorptive issues
What are the 3 characteristic features of diffuse systemic sclerosis
- rapidly progressive skin disease starting in the fingers and ascending to involve face and trunk, proximal limbs (above elbows)
- Skin changes often start with an oedematous and itchy phase
- Other organ involvement within weeks - months
- pulmonary fibrosis, renal disease, GI and myocardial involvement more common
What is CREST more common in
Limited systemic sclerosis = CREST syndrome
General features of systemic sclerosis
Fatigue, stiff joints, weakness, pain, sleep disturb, skin discolouration, erectile dysfunction, hypothyroidism, dry eyes and mouth, myopathies, neuropathies
What are triggers for Raynaud’s syndrome
Cold Change in temp Vibration Emotional stress Drugs - b-lockers, cisplatin, bleomycin
What percentage of population have raynauds
5% of males, 10% females
What are the 3 phases of Raynaud’s
Vasoconstriction (white)
Ischaemia (blue)
Re-perfusion (red)
What are some skin changes with systemic sclerosis
Initial odema and puritis Discolouration and hypo pigmentation (salt and pepper) Loss of hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands Fixed flexion contractures Microstomia Pinched beak like nose Expressionless face Telangiectasia (face, hands, lips and oral mucosa) Calcinosis cutis Tendon friction rubs Nail fold capillary dilatation Sclerodacytly
What is calcinosis cutis
Deposition of calcium hydroxyappitite in skin and soft tissues
Occurs in fingerpads, palms, extensor surfaces of forearms, olecranon and pre-patellar bursa
More common in patients with anti-centromere antibodies and limited
What is acro-osteolysis
Resorption of the terminal phalanges due to ischaemia in severe raynauds
What are the two most common lung abnormalities in SSc and what type are they seen in
Interstitial lung disease
- more common with diffuse (65%) and those with Scl-70 antibodies
- usually NSIP (ground glass changes)
- more common in afro-americans
- progression occurs early
Pulmonary artery hypertension
- limited SSc with anticentromere antibodies
- occurs in 15% of diffuse also but is due to ILD
30% of scleroderma patients have lung disease
What are GI manifestations of SSc
GORD
Periodontal disease
Reduced lower oesophageal motility and delayed gastric emptying
Oesophageal strictures
Gastric natural vascular ectasia
Malabsorption and diarrhoea from bacterial overgrowth
- iron deficiency
Primary biliary cirrhosis ( more in limited)
Wide mouthed colonic diverticulae
Pneumatosis cystodies intestinalis
What us the renal complication of SSc
Scleroderma renal crisis
-malignant HTN
- Occurs in 10-15% of patients usually within 4 years of disease onset
Accelerated hypertension and progressive renal failure
- increased risk if antibodies to RNA polymerase III
Treatment of scleroderma renal crisis
Short acting ACE inhibitor (increased survival from 15% - 76%)
Avoid steroids as can be associated with development of renal crisis
Dialysis and transplant if required
Cardiac manifestations of SSc
Pericardial effusion
Arrythmias and conduction abnormalities
Increased risk of MI
Ventricular dysfunction and valvular insufficiency
Antibodies and their associations in SSc
- ANA positive in 95%
- anti topoisomerase - Scl-70 antibody
- speckled pattern associated with diffuse and lung fibrosis - anti centromere (ACA) antibody - centromere pattern
- associated with limited SSc, pulmonary HTN and esophageal disease - anti RNA polymerase 3 antibody
- nucleolar pattern associated with diffuse, renal and skin involvement and increased risk of malignancy
Management options for skin disease
Methotrexate - preferred if also arthritis
Mycophenolate - preferred if also lung involvement
Cyclophosphamide - only use in refractory cases
in diffuse scleroderma, skin disease improves with time without treatment but hand changes remain
Early skin changes (itch, odema) respond to short course steroids and antihistamines
- must use low does steroids due to risk of renal crisis