Rheumatology

(1/8) > >>

Adminஐﻬ:
Lupus and Myositis

Lupus
Many persons with lupus have muscle pain (myalgia), but few have muscle weakness due to inflammation (myositis).
The "muscle weakness" that people with lupus report is most commonly due to fatigue or high doses of cortisone.

Myositis
In polymyositis-dermatomyositis, the primary problem is muscle weakness due to muscle inflammation.
Weakness especially affects:
- the hips (inability to rise from a chair or toilet seat, or to climb stairs unassisted)
- the shoulders (inability to lift a weight onto a high shelf or comb one's hair).
- typically, there is little or no pain associated with the weakness.
People with myositis also have:
- increased blood levels of creatine kinase (CK), a substance that leaks from injured muscle
- abnormal electrical activity of muscles detected by electromyogram (EMG)
- muscle biopsy showing muscle cell degeneration and inflammation that is found in a muscle biopsy.

Treatments

Prednisone or other cortisone-like drugs are most often recommended for the treatment of myositis, and may be used in combination with other immune-suppressing drugs..
Cortisone itself, in high doses, may actually cause muscle weakness of the hips and shoulders, very similar to what occurs in myositis. But in this condition, called "steroid myopathy," the CK, EMG, and the muscle biopsy do not suggest inflammation, and recovery of strength promptly follows reduction of the cortisone dose.  www.LupusMCTD.com

Adminஐﻬ:
Sjogren's Syndrome and Lupus
Sjogren's syndrome
Henrik Sjφgren was a Swedish ophthalmologist and the first to recognize that dry eyes and dry mouth were often found in people with connective tissue diseases.

These symptoms are caused by the accumulation of immune system cells (lymphocytes) in and around tear and saliva producing glands.
The build-up of cells disturbs the function of these glands and leads to reduced production of tears and saliva.
This condition also interferes with the protective mechanisms of the eye and mouth.
Eye inflammation and ulcers of the cornea, as well as fungal infections of the mouth (thrush), occur with increased frequency in those with Sjogren's.
Rarely, a person with this disorder develops a malignancy (cancer) affecting lymphocytes (lymphoma).
Today, Sjogren's syndrome is itself accorded the status of a distinct connective tissue disorder.

Lupus
Sjogren's syndrome also occurs in some people with lupus:
They have an increased frequency of sun-sensitive rashes and Sjogren's-related blood antibodies (anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies).
Women with anti-SSA antibodies are at increased risk of having babies with "neonatal lupus." Symptoms in the infant can be as minor as a temporary lupus-like skin rash, or as serious as permanent damage to the electrical system of the heart which results in a very slow heart rate (complete heart block)
Treatments

The best treatments for Sjogren's syndrome include : artificial tears (usually satisfactory) and either artificial saliva (most often unsatisfactory) or a saliva stimulant such as pilocarpine and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). Eye drops containing cyclosporin have also just been introduced and have significant benefit for dry eyes in some cases . Arthritis, fatigue and skin rash in people with Sjogren's is often treated with Plaquenil.

 

Adminஐﻬ:


Lupus is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of connective tissue. The most common form of lupus affects exposed areas of the skin, while the more serious and potentially fatal form can affect many systems of the body including the kidneys. It is an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system for unknown reasons attacks connective tissue as though it were foreign. 

Adminஐﻬ:
Raynaud's disease 
 
Overview

Raynaud's is a condition that causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers, toes, tip of your nose and your ears — to feel numb and cool in response to cold temperatures or stress. It's a disorder of the blood vessels that supply blood to your skin. During a Raynaud's attack, these arteries narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas.

You can have Raynaud's without any underlying disease associated with it, in which case it's called Raynaud's disease or primary Raynaud's. Or it can be part of another disease, in which case doctors may refer to it as Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's.

Raynaud's affects a small percentage of Americans. Women are more likely than men are to have the disorder. It's more common in people who live in colder climates.

Treatment of Raynaud's depends on its severity and the presence or absence of associated conditions. For most people, Raynaud's is more a nuisance than a disability.


Signs and symptoms

Raynaud's is more than simply having cold hands and cold feet, and it's not the same as frostbite. Signs and symptoms of Raynaud's depend on the frequency, duration and severity of the blood vessel spasms that underlie the disorder. Signs and symptoms include:

Sequence of color changes in your skin in response to cold or stress
Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or relief of stress
At first during an attack of Raynaud's, affected areas of your skin usually turn white. Then, the areas often turn blue and feel cold and numb, and your sensory perception is dull. The affected skin may look slightly swollen. As circulation improves, the affected areas may turn red, throb, tingle or swell. The order of the changes of color isn't the same for all people, and not everyone experiences all three colors.

Occasionally, an attack affects just one or two fingers or toes. Attacks don't necessarily always affect the same digits. Although Raynaud's most commonly affects your fingers and toes, the condition also can affect other areas of your body such as your nose, cheeks, ears and even tongue. An attack may last less than a minute to several hours. Over time, attacks may grow more severe.

People who have Raynaud's accompanied by another disease also may have symptoms related to their underlying condition.


Raynaud's disease

Raynaud's disease is a vascular disorder that causes intermittent interruption of blood flow to the extremities. The affected body part may turn white or blue and feel cold and numb until circulation ...


Causes

Doctors don't completely understand the cause of Raynaud's attacks, but blood vessels in the hands and feet appear to overreact to cold temperatures or stress.

When your body is exposed to cold temperatures, your extremities lose heat. Your body slows down blood supply to your fingers and toes to preserve your body's core temperature. Your body specifically reduces blood flow by narrowing the small arteries under the skin of your extremities. In people with Raynaud's, this normal response is exaggerated. Stress causes a similar reaction to cold in the body, and likewise the body's response may be exaggerated.

With Raynaud's, arteries to your fingers and toes go into what's called vasospasm. This constricts the vessels, temporarily but dramatically limiting blood supply. Over time, these same small arteries may also thicken slightly, further limiting blood flow. The result is that affected skin turns a pale and dusky color due to the lack of blood flow to the area. Once the spasms subside and blood returns to the area, the tissue may turn red before returning to a normal color.

Cold temperatures are most likely to provoke an attack. Exposure to cold can be as simple as putting your hands under a faucet of running cold water, taking something out of the freezer or exposure to cold air. For some people, exposure to cold temperatures isn't necessary. Emotional stress alone can cause an episode of Raynaud's.

Some researchers are studying whether Raynaud's may be partly an inherited disorder.

Primary vs. secondary Raynaud's
Raynaud's occurs in two main types:

Primary Raynaud's. This is Raynaud's without an underlying disease or associated medical problem that could provoke vasospasm. Also called Raynaud's disease, it's the most common form of the disorder. Primary Raynaud's typically affects both hands and both feet.

Secondary Raynaud's. This is Raynaud's caused by an underlying problem. Also called Raynaud's phenomenon, secondary Raynaud's usually affects both of your hands or both feet. Although secondary Raynaud's is less common than the primary form, it's often a more complex and serious disorder.
Causes of secondary Raynaud's include:

Scleroderma. Raynaud's phenomenon occurs in about 90 percent of people who have scleroderma — a rare disease that leads to hardening and scarring of the skin. Scleroderma, a type of connective tissue disease, results in Raynaud's because the disease reduces blood flow to the extremities. It causes tiny blood vessels in the hands and feet to thicken and to constrict too easily, promoting Raynaud's.

Lupus.
About one-third of Americans with lupus — an autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of your body, including your skin, joints, organs and blood vessels — develop Raynaud's. An autoimmune disease is one in which your immune system attacks healthy tissue.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Raynaud's may be an initial sign of rheumatoid arthritis — an inflammatory condition causing pain and stiffness in the joints, often including the hands and feet.

Sjogren's syndrome. Raynaud's phenomenon can also occur in people who have Sjogren's syndrome — a rare disorder that often accompanies scleroderma, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The hallmark of Sjogren's syndrome, a connective tissue disease, is chronic dryness of the eyes and mouth.

Diseases of the arteries. Raynaud's phenomenon can be associated with various diseases that affect arteries, such as atherosclerosis — the gradual buildup of plaques in blood vessels that feed the heart (coronary arteries), or Buerger's disease — a disorder in which the blood vessels of the hands and feet become inflamed.

Carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in your wrist that protects a major nerve to your hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which pressure is put on this nerve, producing numbness and pain in the affected hand. The affected hand may become more susceptible to cold temperatures and episodes of Raynaud's.
Repetitive trauma. Raynaud's can also be caused by repetitive trauma that damages nerves serving blood vessels in the hands and feet. In fact, nerve damage is thought to play a role in many cases of Raynaud's. Some people who type or play the piano for long periods of time or vigorously may be susceptible to Raynaud's. Workers who operate vibrating tools can develop a type of Raynaud's phenomenon called vibration-induced white finger.

Smoking. Smoking constricts blood vessels and is a potential cause of Raynaud's.
Injuries. Prior injuries to the hands or feet, such as wrist fracture, surgery, or frostbite, can lead to Raynaud's phenomenon.

Certain medications. Some drugs — including beta blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure; migraine medications that contain ergotamine; estrogen replacement therapy; certain chemotherapy agents; and drugs that cause blood vessels to narrow, such as some over-the-counter cold medications — have been linked to Raynaud's.

Chemical exposure. Some workers in the plastics industry who are exposed to vinyl chloride develop an illness similar to scleroderma. Raynaud's can be a part of that illness.

Other causes. Raynaud's has also been linked to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), to a condition in which blood pressure rises in the blood vessels of the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and, rarely, to certain cancers.
 




This website is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Lupus and Tissue Disorder is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services and this information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem. The site author and the content providers make no representation or warranties, expressed or implied. Providing links to other websites does not imply that Lupus and Connective Tissue Disorder endorses the information or services provided on those websites. The organizations operating those websites are solely responsible for the content found on their websites. All material on this web site is copyright © 2005 by
www.LupusMCTD.com.size]

Adminஐﻬ:
Hughes Syndrome
Could you have been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis?
 Apparently, Hughes Syndrome can easily be mistaken for Multiple Sclerosis. It shares many of the symptoms and as many as 1 in 3 people diagnosed with MS actually have Hughes Syndrome.

Hughes Syndrome is also known as Sticky Blood Syndrome although it's proper title is Antiphospholipid Syndrome (or APS). Discovered by a Dr. Graham Hughes in 1983 while treating patients for the Lupus condition. Sticky Blood can be easily treated with Aspirin, Heparin or Warfarin but, if left untreated it can be fatal. Sticky blood can lead to the formation of blood clots which can cause Thrombosis or Strokes.

The symptoms of Hughes Syndrome can be uncannily like those of MS. They may include: difficulty with walking, foot drop, double-vision, tingling sensations, slurred speech and loss of balance. I don't know about you, but this is ringing some fairly loud alarm bells with me. Like MS, Hughes Syndrome is an autoimmune deficiency and it's cause is unknown.

Read the MS Resource Centre's article or visit the Hughes Syndrome Foundation Website
 

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page