Autoimmunity reviews
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Autoimmunity reviews · Apr 2014
ReviewDiagnosis and classification of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a difficult disease to diagnose. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a member of a class of diseases known as idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. Other members include nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, acute interstitial pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. ⋯ Prior to 2011, the diagnosis was based on major and minor criteria, but because these criteria were not evidence based, the criteria were modified by consensus from the American Thoracic Society, the European Respiratory Society, the Japanese Respiratory Society, and the Latin American Thoracic Association. These new criteria now include satisfying three core requirements, including exclusion of other possible cause of interstitial lung disease, specific findings of usual interstitial pneumonia on high resolution computed tomography, and a combination of "possible UIP" findings on high resolution computed tomography and UIP findings on lung biopsy. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a severe, progressive disease with limited treatment options, and exacerbations are associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality.
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Autoimmunity reviews · Apr 2014
ReviewDiagnosis and classification of autoimmune blistering diseases.
Blistering skin diseases are a group of autoimmune disorders that are characterized by autoantibodies against structural proteins of the epidermis or the dermal-epidermal junction and clinically by blisters and erosions on skin and/or mucous membranes. Since clinical criteria and histopathological characteristics are not sufficient for diagnosis, direct immunofluorescence microscopy of a biopsy specimen or serological tests are needed for exact diagnosis. ⋯ Moreover, some bullous diseases may indicate the presence of an underlying malignancy. The detection of serum autoantibodies have been shown to correlate with disease activity and thus may be helpful in deciding treatment options for these patients.
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Recent studies suggested the existence of two subtypes of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP): type 1 related with IgG4 as the pancreatic manifestation of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), and type 2 related with a granulocytic epithelial lesion. Apart from type 2 AIP, the characteristic features of type 1 AIP are increased serum IgG4 levels, lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (abundant infiltration of IgG4+ plasmacytes and lymphocytes, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis), extra-pancreatic manifestations of IgG4-RD (e.g. sclerosing cholangitis, sclerosing sialadenitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis), and steroid responsiveness. Although the way how to diagnose IgG4-RD has not been established yet, the Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria (CDC) for IgG4-RD for general use, and several organ specific criteria for AIP have been proposed; the International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) and the revised clinical diagnostic criteria in 2011 by Japan Pancreas Society (JPS-2011) for type1 AIP. In cases of probable or possible IgG4-RD diagnosed by the CDC, organ specific diagnostic criteria should be concurrently used according to an algorithm of diagnosis for IgG4-RD with reference to the specialist.
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Autoimmunity reviews · Apr 2014
ReviewDiagnosis and classification of pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid.
Pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid represent the two major groups of autoimmune blistering diseases. Pemphigus has three major variants: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus and paraneoplastic pemphigus and is characterized by autoantibodies directed against the cell surface of keratinocytes, producing acantholysis that in turn leads to intraepithelial blisters in the skin and/or mucous membranes. In bullous pemphigoid, the autoantibodies are present at the dermo-epidermal junction and attack the hemidesmosomes, causing subepidermal blister formation. ⋯ Many tools are available for the diagnosis of these entities including biopsy, direct and indirect immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting and ELISA. However, currently there are no generally accepted criteria for the diagnosis of these disorders. The present review provides a proposal for diagnostic criteria.
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Autoimmunity reviews · Apr 2014
ReviewThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and other thrombotic microangiopathic hemolytic anemias: diagnosis and classification.
Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) include several diseases, most prominently are thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). TMAs are characterized by profound thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and organ ischemia. In most cases TTP results from deficiency of ADAMTS13, the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease leading to increase of ultra-large von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) multimers. ⋯ Plasmapheresis in HUS is not efficient. Alternatively, plasma therapy and in some cases dialysis are used. TMA diseases may be associated with other infections, bone marrow transplantation, pregnancy, systemic vasculitis, and certain drugs.