Connective Tissue Disease
Connective Tissue Disease Rheumatoid arthritis: aetiology, clinical features, and immunopathology Aetiology RhA is a multisystem disease in which arthritis is a major component. An infectious trigger has been sought for…
Autoimmune Eye Disease
Autoimmune Eye Disease Overview The eye has a number of interesting immunological properties which alter the propensity for immune-mediated disease, including the curious feature that antigen injected into the anterior…
Allergic Disease
Allergic Disease Introduction Allergic diseases are common: it has been estimated that 15% of the population will suffer from some sort of allergic reaction during their lifetime. It is clear…
Autoimmune Skin Disorders
Autoimmune Skin Disorders Overview The skin is a very easy organ in which to investigate autoimmune disease, due to its accessibility for biopsy (see Box 10.1). Autoantibodies can be detected…
Autoimmune Haematological Disorders
Autoimmune Haematological Disorders Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) Presentation ITP can occur at any age and is characterized by thrombocytopenia, with increased marrow megakaryocytes, and shortened platelet survival. Presentation is usually with…
Autoimmunity in Liver Disease
Autoimmunity in Liver Disease Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) Presentation PBC is a disease of older women (90% of patients are female). Clinical features include initially: profound fatigue starting in the…
Autoimmunity in Gastrointestinal Disease
Autoimmunity in Gastrointestinal Disease Autoimmune enteropathy Autoantibodies against gut enterocytes have been associated with: Coeliac-like enteropathy (DQ2 positive), unresponsive to gluten-free diet, with villous atrophy. IPEX syndrome (see Chapters 1…
Autoimmunity Associated with Cardiac, Respiratory, and Renal Disease
Autoimmunity Associated with Cardiac, Respiratory, and Renal Disease Cardiac disease 1: myocarditis and cardiomyopathy Myocarditis This is associated with connective tissue diseases, especially SLE, and vasculitis, particularly Churg-Strauss syndrome. May…
Autoimmunity of the Nervous System
Autoimmunity of the Nervous System Myasthenia gravis (MG) Presentation Patients complain of double vision, muscle weakness, and fatigue (worse later in the day). Ptosis and diplopia are typical signs. Examination…
Autoimmunity and the Endocrine System
Autoimmunity and the Endocrine System Classification of autoimmune thyroid disease Autoimmune hyperthyroidism Graves’ disease Autoimmune thyroiditis Hashimoto’s thyroiditis Post-partum thyroiditis Atrophic thyroiditis Graves’ disease Presentation Usually presents with thyrotoxicosis and…
