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Flashcards in Lupus Deck (18)
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1
Q

Characteristics of lupus

A

Multi-organ autoimmune disease

Affects young women

Responds well to treatment

2
Q

Why is lupus characterised as a condition with wide clinical presentations?

A

Autoantibodies directed to self molecules all around the body

3
Q

What are the symptoms of Lupus?

A

General fatigue - fever, weight loss

Joint pains

Muscle pains

Rash - facial butterfly

Mouth ulcers

Vascular inflammation

Organ involvement

4
Q

What is a condition typical in lupus that leads to joint pains?

A

Symmetrical arthritis in small joints

Rarely causes destructive changes

5
Q

How common is the facial butterfly amongst lupus patients?

A

Affects 85% of patients

6
Q

What are examples of vascular inflammation triggered in lupus patients?

A

Raynaud’s - loss of circulation when exposed to cold

Vasculitis - more severe and permanent

7
Q

What are common organs involved in lupus?

A

Renal damage - glomerulonephritis

CNS problems - neuropathy, stroke, migraine, epilepsy

Lungs

8
Q

Does genetics play a big role in the susceptibility of the disease?

A

Yes

HLA class II genes are well established to be source of autoimmunity

9
Q

What is the progression of the disease?

A

Patient is healthy in early years

Environmental trigger initiates disease progression

Initially innate IS

Then adaptive IS

Onset of clinical disease is amplified as years progress

Irreversible tissue damage occurs

10
Q

What is lupus characterised by?

A

Persistent autoimmune process that is aberrantly controlled and results in autoimmune phenotype

11
Q

What are the triggers of lupus?

A

Viral infections

Hormonal changes - pregnancy, contraceptive

Sunlight

12
Q

Most types of treatments aimed at lupus are educational

TRUE or FALSE

A

TRUE

13
Q

Treatments for SLE

A

Sunblock/ infection/ fertility

Steroids

Antimalarial

Immunosuppressants

Biological agents

Protection of CVD risk

14
Q

Why do antimalarial drugs improve survival of lupus patients?

A

Improves long-term survival by impairing organ involvement

15
Q

What are the biological agents used to treat lupus?

A

Biological agents are used to target components of the immune system

Rituximab - antibody against CD20 on B cells

16
Q

How can you protect against CVD risk in lupus patients?

A

Avoid risk factors

Do blood tests

17
Q

What is the goal of lupus treatments?

A

Preserve life and organs of patients

18
Q

What is the problem with lupud treatments?

A

Since they only preserve organs instead of treating the uderlying cause of the damage there is sill risk of

Infection

Coronary artery disease

Fatigue