Autoimmune Dx Flashcards
(49 cards)
What are the different types of autoimmune diseases students should identify?
Organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases.
What are common symptoms students should recognize in autoimmune diseases?
The most common symptoms evident in each autoimmune disease.
What is autoimmunity?
A breakdown in self-tolerance leading to the immune system responding to self-molecules as if they were foreign.
What triggers the autoimmune response?
Sequestered antigens, foreign antigens, altered antigens, mutation of immunocompetent cells, and dysfunction of T cells.
What occurs in autoimmune diseases?
An individual produces antibody or T cell response to his/her own antigens, resulting in a loss of self-tolerance.
What are the mechanisms involved in autoimmune diseases?
Antibody-cell surface component interaction, formation of autoantigen-autoantibody complexes, sensitization of T cells, and genetic factors.
What is Hashimoto’s disease?
An organ-specific autoimmune disease where humoral and cellular immunity lead to the destruction of normal thyroid tissue, causing hypothyroidism.
What antibodies are detected in Hashimoto’s disease?
Antithyroid antibodies including antithyroglobulin, antithyroid peroxidase, and second colloid antigen.
What characterizes Graves’ disease?
Hyperplasia and diffuse goiter caused by an autoantibody reacting with thyroid receptors, overstimulating the thyroid gland.
What results from the overstimulation in Graves’ disease?
Thyrotoxicosis, with elevated free and total T3 and T4, and decreased TSH.
What are common findings in Graves’ disease?
Exophthalmos and infiltrative dermopathy, including pretibial myxedema.
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
A neuromuscular disease in which the nerve muscles do not function normally. Most patients exhibit antibodies to acetylcholine receptors that block nerve impulses and can damage neurons.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
A chronic progressive inflammatory disease characterized by demyelination of the nerves. Studies suggest certain viruses, especially Epstein-Barr virus and human herpes virus 6, are associated with MS.
What are the laboratory findings in Multiple Sclerosis?
Active lesions contain CTLs, T helper cells, and macrophages. Most patients have increased IgG concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What does the IgG index indicate?
It differentiates true increases in IgG production from increases due to blood-brain barrier permeability.
What are the laboratory findings in Sjogren Syndrome?
Findings include polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibodies against the salivary glands, positive RF, ANA (speckled or diffuse pattern), anti-SSA, and anti-SSB.
What is Pernicious Anemia?
A condition associated with autoimmune processes affecting the absorption of vitamin B12, leading to anemia.
What are Oligoclonal Bands in CSF?
They are indicative of Multiple Sclerosis but can also appear in other conditions like SLE, viral meningitis, and neurosyphilis.
What is Autoimmune Rheumatoid Arthritis?
A chronic, noninfectious, systemic inflammatory disease primarily affecting women, characterized by abnormal circulating IgM autoantibodies known as rheumatoid factor (RF).
What are the symptoms of Autoimmune Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, weakness, mild fever, anorexia, morning stiffness, joint pain (improves during the day), vasculitis, and rheumatoid nodules.
What causes Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
Islet cell destruction in the pancreas results in insulin-dependent diabetes. Autoantibodies and CTLs react against pancreatic beta cells, causing insulin deficiency.
What viruses can trigger Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
Viruses like mumps, measles, rubella, Coxsackie B virus, and infectious mononucleosis can trigger autoantibody production leading to new cases of diabetes.
What is the role of HLA-DQ1.2 and HLA-DR2 in Type 1 Diabetes?
These HLA types decrease the risk of developing diabetes.
What is the pathophysiology of Sjogren Syndrome?
It involves the production of IgG or IgM antibodies against IgG in the synovium, leading to immune complex formation, complement activation, and tissue destruction.
