Felis ISSN 2398-2950
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Synonym(s): SLE
Contributor(s): Michael Day
Introduction
- Multisystemic autoimmune rare disease.
- Cause: autoantibodies produced against self antigens.
- Signs: depression, stiffness, glomerulonephropathy, neurological disease.
- Diagnosis: hematology, ANA titer, histopathology.
- Treatment: immunosuppressive therapy.
- Prognosis: guarded.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Unknown but probably multifactorial.
- Genetic, viral and hormonal influences have been implicated.
Pathophysiology
- Loss of self tolerance → autoantibodies and cytotoxic lymphocytes acting against 'self' → tissue pathology.
- Autoantibodies react with self antigens in multiple organ systems.
- Direct effects caused by antibody binding to surface antigens:
- Hemolysis of red cells → anemia.
- Destruction of platelets → thrombocytopenia.
- Damage to white cells → leucopenia.
- Indirect effects due to circulating antibody-antigen complexes:
- Deposition in glomeruli → glomerulonephropathy → CRF and protein loss → hypoproteinemia Hypoproteinemia.
- Deposition in basement membrane in epithelium → mucocutaneous junction lesions.
- Circulating complexes can → macrophage and complement activation.
- Cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration of tissue.
- Interface dermatitis.
- Synovitis.
Timecourse
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Shaw S E, Birtles R J & Day M J (2001) Arthropod-transmitted infectious diseases of cats. J Feline Med Surg 3 (4), 193-209 PubMed.
- Lusson D, Billiemaz B & Chabanne J L (1999) Circulating lupus anticoagulant and probable systemic lupus erythematosus in a cat. J Feline Med Surg 1 (3), 193-196 PubMed.
- Vitale C B, Ihrke P J, Gross T L et al (1997) Systemic lupus erythematosus in a cat - fulfillment of the American Rheumatism Association criteria with supportive skin histopathology. Vet Dermatol 8 (2), 133-138 VetMedResource.
- Pederson N C & Barlough J E (1991) Systemic erythematosus in the cat. Feline Prac 19 (3), 5-13 VetMedResource.