Saturday, July 31, 2010
How much do you know about... Lupus
Vol.17, No.05,
May 2009
1. A positive result on the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is diagnostic of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- a) true
- b) false
2. Which of the following is not a common dermatological symptom of SLE?
- a) discoid rash
- b) malar rash
- c) mucous membrane ulcers
- d) erythroderma
- e) photosensitive rash
3. Lupus is associated with second-trimester pregnancy losses because it can cause:
- a) eclampsia
- b) antiphospholipid syndrome
- c) Rh incompatibility
- d) erythroblastosis fetalis
- e) hypothyroidism
4. SLE is more common in women than in men by what factor?
- a) twice as common
- b) 3-6 times as common
- c) 6-9 times as common
- d) 10-15 times as common
- e) more than 20 times as common
5. Which of the following drugs is not associated with drug-induced lupus (DIL)?
- a) procaine
- b) hydralazine
- c) minocycline
- d) carbamazepine
- e) phenytoin
- f) methotrexate
- g) sulfasalazine
- h) isoniazid
- i) anti-TNF therapy
ANSWER
- b) False. While 99% of SLE patients test positive for antinuclear antibodies, there are many other conditions that can cause a positive result, including drug-induced lupus, chronic active hepatitis, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Even among patients whose health is normal, a minority will test positive.
- d) Erythroderma. Lupus can cause discoid, malar, and photosensitive rash, and ulcers in the mouth, nose and pharynx.
- b) Antiphospholipid syndrome. Several autoimmune conditions increase the risk of antiphospholipid syndrome, but SLE is the one most closely linked.
- c) SLE is 6-9 times more common in women than in men.
- f) Methotrexate. All the other drugs on this list - procaine, hydralazine, minocycline, carbamazepine, phenytoin, sulfasalazine, isoniazid, and anti-TNF drugs - are linked to elevated risk of drug-induced lupus.
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