Anti-GBM/Anti-TBM nephritis Anti–glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody disease is a rare autoimmune disorder caused by autoantibodies that attack the walls of small blood vessels (capillaries) in the kidney. Anti-GBM disease that only affects the kidneys is called anti-GBM glomerulonephritis. This is a form of inflammation (-itis), which is an injury to tissue caused by white blood … [Read more…]
Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome /Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune, hypercoagulable, thrombo inflammatory, and thrombosis and/or pregnancy complications syndrome caused by the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) in plasma of patients with vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity along with persistent anti-phospholipid antibodies (APLA), including lupus anticoagulant (LA), anti-β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) and/or anti-cardiolipin (ACL) antibodies.[rx] … [Read more…]
Acquired Angioedema/Angioedema is non-pitting edema that involves subcutaneous and/or submucosal layers of tissue that affect the face, lips, neck, and extremities, oral cavity, larynx, and/or gut. It becomes life-threatening when it involves the larynx. This activity examines the differential diagnosis of this condition and how to properly evaluate a patient presenting with it. This activity … [Read more…]
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by either a lack of C1-inhibitor protein or by dysfunctional C1-inhibitor protein. HAE manifests with symptoms related to angioedema of the upper airway, skin and/ or gastrointestinal tract. The most feared complication is upper airway swelling that can proceed to asphyxiation. Fortunately, upper airway involvement is … [Read more…]
Bradykinin-mediated angioedema includes hereditary angioedema, acquired angioedema, and angiotensin-converting enzyme-induced angioedema. It is not commonly associated with itching, and urticaria does not occur. It progressives at a slower rate than histamine-mediated angioedema, usually over several hours. If untreated, attacks tend to be more persistent and severe than histamine-mediated attacks, with abdominal involvement in approximately 50% … [Read more…]
Angioneurotic Edema is a relatively common presentation in the emergency department. It presents as unpredictable frequent edematous episodes of cutaneous and mucosal tissues such as lips, eyes, oral cavity, larynx, and gastrointestinal system. This activity highlights the history, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment of antineurotic edema, and management of special cases with this condition. It also … [Read more…]
Myocarditis is also known as inflammatory cardiomyopathy is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening disease significant cause of sudden death and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, especially in the young. It include bacterial and protozoal infections, toxins, drug reactions, autoimmune diseases, giant cell myocarditis, and sarcoidosis and has a very diverse and sometimes, nonspecific presentation, and can mimic various … [Read more…]
Autoimmune myocarditis is an autoimmune disease that affects the heart. The condition is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). Some people with autoimmune myocarditis have no noticeable symptoms of the condition. When present, signs, and symptoms may include chest pain, abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, signs of infection (i.e. fever, headache, sore throat, diarrhea), … [Read more…]
Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) is defined as inflammation of the heart muscle associated with impaired function of the myocardium, which has most often the morphology of dilated cardiomyopathy. Inflammation of the heart muscle itself, that is, myocarditis may have many infectious (viral, bacterial, and protozoal infections) and noninfectious causes (e.g., myocarditis accompanying autoimmune disease or hypersensitivity … [Read more…]
Acute Myocarditis/Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) is defined as inflammation of the heart muscle associated with impaired function of the myocardium, which has most often the morphology of dilated cardiomyopathy. Inflammation of the heart muscle itself, that is, myocarditis may have many infectious (viral, bacterial, and protozoal infections) and noninfectious causes (e.g., myocarditis accompanying autoimmune disease or … [Read more…]
Chronic Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy/Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) is defined as inflammation of the heart muscle associated with impaired function of the myocardium, which has most often the morphology of dilated cardiomyopathy. Inflammation of the heart muscle itself, that is, myocarditis may have many infectious (viral, bacterial, and protozoal infections) and noninfectious causes (e.g., myocarditis accompanying autoimmune disease … [Read more…]
Idiopathic Myocarditis /Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) is defined as inflammation of the heart muscle associated with impaired function of the myocardium, which has most often the morphology of dilated cardiomyopathy. Inflammation of the heart muscle itself, that is, myocarditis may have many infectious (viral, bacterial, and protozoal infections) and noninfectious causes (e.g., myocarditis accompanying autoimmune disease … [Read more…]