Category: Acute Phase Reactants

• Herpese Zoster

  1. It causes a painful rash. Other rashes may itch or not but they do not hurt. This rash does hurt and often is very painful. This rash also occurs only on one side. 2. Pain often comes before the rash. I tend to treat, even without the rash,  if I do not find a…

  July 25, 2015

  · Cancer, Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Medicine, Viral

• SSB or Anti-La

  When ANA is positive, SSB and SSA along with other antibodies are ordered to determine the underlying disease. SSB or Anti-La is a Ribonucleoprotein that is seen in the following conditions: Sjogren’s Syndrome Systemic Lupus Neonatal Lupus SSB Antibodies are rare in other connective tissue diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. SSB presence is associated with: Primary…

  July 19, 2015

  · Autoimmune diseases, Autoimmune diseases, Cardiology, Liver disease, Lupus, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Sjögren’s syndrome

• SSA or Anti-Ro

  When ANA is positive, SSA along with other antibodies are ordered to determine the underlying disease. SSA or Anti-Ro are antinuclear antibodies that are seen in the following conditions: Sjogren’s Syndrome Systemic Lupus Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Photosensitive Dermatitis SSA Antibodies are rare in other connective tissue diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. SSA presence is associated with:…

  July 19, 2015

  · Autoimmune diseases, Blood, Dermatology, Lupus, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Sjögren’s syndrome, Urinalysis

• Urinalysis

  These are important points to remember when you look at Urinalysis: Urine volume less than 100 cc in 24 hours ——- Anuria caused by obstruction or severe kidney damage with Urine volume less than 400 cc in 24 hours ——- oliguria caused by acute renal failure Urine volume over 2000 cc in 24 hours ——-…

  July 16, 2015

  · Acute Phase Reactants, Antibiotics, Autoimmune diseases, Biologic Therapy, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, REnal Failure, Urinalysis, urology

• Anti-Smith (anti-Sm)

  Important points about Anti-Smith (anti-Sm) antibodies are: – This test along with anti-RNP are used to determine the cause of the positive ANA. – ANA is non-specific and can be seen in Lupus as well as other rheumatic diseases. Anti- Smith antibodies on the other hand are very specific for Lupus. – Anti -Smith antibodies…

  July 16, 2015

  · Autoimmune diseases, Lupus, Nephrology, Rheumatology

• Complements

  Complements are group of proteins that are involved in inflammation. The activation of the complements occur in the following settings: Systemic Lupus Glomerulonephritis Complement deficiencies Complement levels of C3, C4, and CH50 usually can indicate complement activation. CH50 indicates activity of the overall complement system. There are nine major complement proteins but C3 and C4…

  July 16, 2015

  · Acute Phase Reactants, Autoimmune diseases, Infectious Diseases, Lupus, Nephrology, Rheumatology

• XELJANZ (tofacitinib)

  XELJANZ (tofacitinib) is the new rheumatoid arthritis drug on the market and it is made by Pfizer. – Xeljanz is a Janus Kinases inhibitor or JAKs and works by inhibiting one or more of the Janus Kinase enzymes. – These enzymes are named JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2. Xeljanz primarily inhibits JAK3 but also has effect…

  July 16, 2015

  · Autoimmune diseases, Biologic Therapy, Colitis, Infectious Diseases

• Lyme Disease

  Points to consider when you are dealing with Lyme disease: 1. Prevention is very important including using insecticide (acaricides) in the endemic areas, using protective clothing, tick repellent, checking for ticks and taking a shower within two hours of being in the tick habitat. 2. It would take two weeks for Lyme IgM to become…

  July 15, 2015

  · Acute Phase Reactants, Antibiotics, Infectious Diseases

• Forteo (teriparatide) for treatment of Osteoporosis

  Points to remember about Forteo are: 1. This is an anabolic drug causing bone formation by stimulating preosteoblasts instead of preventing bone resorption as seen with other agents such as calcitonin and bisphosphonates. 2. Clinically Forteo appears to be very effective as I have seen patients stop fracturing after only four months of therapy with…

  July 15, 2015

  · Biphosphonates, Bone, DXA, Fracture, Metabolism, Nephrology, Osteoblast, Osteoclast, Osteoporosis, Vitamin D, Z Score

• Spondyloarthritis

  Spondyloarthritis is an ancient inflammatory autoimmune disease that dates back to the time of Egyptian mummies 5000 years ago. X-rays of the spine of an ancient mummified pharaoh showed evidence of spondylitis. This is unlike Rheumatoid Arthritis that can not be traced back beyond the last three hundred years. Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis often goes undiagnosed for…

  July 14, 2015

  · Acute Phase Reactants, Autoimmune diseases, Biologic Therapy, Colitis