AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Ass. Sklyannaya E.V.

SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which organs, tissues, and cells undergo damage mediated by tissuebinding autoantibodies and immune complexes.

Epidemiology

Ninety percent of patients are women of childbearing years.

Prevalence of SLE is 15 to 50 per 100,000.

Etiology
susceptibility genes
environmental factors (estrogen, ultraviolet light)

abnormal immune responses

Pathogenesis

hypersensitivity of T and B lymphocytes production of pathogenic autoantibodies formation of immune complexes sequestration and destruction of Ig-coated circulating cells fixation and cleaving of complement proteins release of chemotaxins, vasoactive peptides, and destructive enzymes into tissues

Pathology

In skin - deposition of Ig at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ), injury to basal keratinocytes, and inflammation dominated by T lymphocytes in the DEJ and around blood vessels and dermal appendages
In renal biopsies - proliferative changes in mesangium and in glomeruli, predominantly membranous changes to scarred glomeruli In blood vessels - leukocytoclastic vasculitis In lymph node biopsies - nonspecific diffuse chronic inflammation.

Clinical Manifestations

Systemic Manifestations (fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias, fever, prostration, weight loss) Musculoskeletal Manifestations (polyarthritis, myositis) Renal Manifestations (Nephritis) Nervous System Manifestations (cognitive dysfunction, headaches, seizures, psychosis, myelopathy)

Clinical Manifestations

Cutaneous Manifestations (lupus dermatitis: discoid lupus erythematosus, systemic rash, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus)

The classic malar rash, also known as a butterfly rash, with distribution over the cheeks and nasal bridge. Note that the fixed erythema, sometimes with mild induration as seen here, characteristically spares the nasolabial folds. Photosensitive SLE rashes typically occur on the face or extremities, which are sun-exposed regions.

Clinical Manifestations

Vascular Occlusions Pulmonary Manifestations Cardiac Manifestations Hematologic Manifestations Gastrointestinal Manifestations Ocular Manifestations

Workup

Tests for Autoantibodies Diagnostically, the most important autoantibodies to detect are ANA since the test is positive in >95% of patients, usually at the onset of symptoms. High-titer IgG antibodies to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) (but not to singlestranded DNA) are specific for SLE. Standard Tests for Diagnosis Screening tests for complete blood count, platelet count, and urinalysis may detect abnormalities that contribute to the diagnosis and influence management decisions.

Diagnosis

1. Malar rash. 2. Discoid rash. 3. Photosensitivity. 4. Oral ulcers. 5. Arthritis. 6. Serositis. 7. Renal disorder. 8. Neurologic disorder. 9. Hematologic disorder. 10. Immunologic disorder. 11. Antinuclear antibodies.

Differentials
Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Hepatitis C, Infectious Mononucleosis, Infective Endocarditis, Lyme Disease, B-Cell Lymphoma, Mixed Connective-Tissue Disease, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Preeclampsia (Toxemia of Pregnancy), Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Serum Sickness, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Undifferentiated Connective-Tissue Disease, Drug-induced lupus erythematosus, Vasculitis, Leukemia, Neoplasia, HIV, Multiple sclerosis, Parvovirus or other viral infections.

Treatment

Analgesics antimalarials glucocorticoids cytotoxic drugs

Prognosis
Survival in patients with SLE is 90 to 95% at 2 years, 82 to 90% at 5 years, 71 to 80% at 10 years, and 63 to 75% at 20 years.

SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic multisystem disorder of unknown etiology characterized clinically by thickening of the skin caused by accumulation of connective tissue and by structural and functional abnormalities of visceral organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys.

Epidemiology
The estimated incidence of systemic sclerosis is 19 cases per million population, and the prevalence of systemic sclerosis has been estimated at 240 cases per million population, although reported prevalence has ranged from 138 to 286 cases per million population. The risk of systemic sclerosis is 39 times higher in women than in men. The peak onset occurs in individuals aged 30-50 years.

Etiology

1. Genetic abnormalities. 2. Infectious agents. 3. Environmental factors. 4. Drugs.

Pathogenesis

Pathology

Systemic sclerosis is characterized by excessive fibrosis in the skin and other affected organs. The skin and lungs also show prominent T-lymphocyte infiltration. A severe fibroproliferative vasculopathy that affects small arteries and arterioles is universally present in affected organs. Platelet microthrombi are often found in the lumen of the narrowed vessels.

Classification
1. Systemic sclerosis: Limited cutaneous disease Diffuse cutaneous disease Sine scleroderma Undifferentiated connective tissue disease Overlap syndromes 2. Localized scleroderma Morphea Linear scleroderma (en coup de sabre)

Clinical Manifestations Skin Features

Tightening of the skin in the face, with a characteristic beaklike facies and paucity of wrinkles

Clinical Manifestations Skin Features

Sclerodactyly with digital ulceration, loss of skin creases, joint contractures, and sparse hair

Clinical Manifestations Skin Features

Anterior chest demonstrating salt-andpepper hypopigmentation and diffuse hyperpigmentation in a white woman

Clinical Manifestations

Raynauds Phenomenon Musculoskeletal Features Gastrointestinal Features Pulmonary Features Cardiac Features Renal Features

Workup

Workup

CT scan Radiography Echocardiography Right-heart catheterization Esophagraphy Pulmonary function testing Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide Cardiac rhythm monitoring Esophagogastroduodenoscopy Biopsy of skin and lungs

Diagnosis
Preliminary criteria of systemic sclerosis by the American Rheumatism Association: major criterion sclerodermatous involvement proximal to the digits minor criteria: 1)sclerodactyly, 2)digital pitting scars or tissue loss of the volar pads of the fingertips, and 3)bibasilar pulmonary fibrosis.

Differentials

Eosinophilia, Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, Eosinophilic Fasciitis, Graft Versus Host Disease, Mycosis Fungoides, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, Primary, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Scleroderma. Other Problems to be Considered: Toxic oil syndrome (adulterated rape seed oil), Porphyria cutanea tarda, Digital sclerosis of diabetes mellitus, Vibration disease, Radiation exposure, Intestinal obstruction, Infiltrative cardiomyopathy, Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis), Amyloidosis, Scleromyxedema (generalized lichen myxedematosus), Scleredema diabeticorum

Treatment

D-penicillamine, colchicine, IFN-, IFN-, recombinant human relaxin, antiplatelet therapy, glucocorticoids, calcium channel blockers

Prognosis

Pulmonary hypertension and scleroderma renal crisis are the most frequent causes of mortality. Survival averages 12 years from diagnosis and correlates best with the clinical disease subtype (diffuse cutaneous vs limited cutaneous) and extent of organ involvement. The limited cutaneous subset carries a 10-year survival rate of 71%. The diffuse cutaneous subset carries a 10-year survival rate of 21%. Pulmonary hypertension is a major prognostic factor for survival.