Systemic Autoimmune, Sleep, and Sensory Perceptual Disorders Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Sclerosis, Reiter's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Polymyositis, Sjogren's Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sleep Disorders, and Cognitive/Perceptual Disorders of the Eye and Ear.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

A chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder involving vascular and connective tissue, characterized by immune complex deposition, butterfly rash, photosensitivity, and multisystem organ involvement.

Type III Immune-Complex Mediated Hypersensitivity

A reaction occurring in SLE where IgG or IgM antigen-antibody complexes deposit in blood vessel walls and tissues, activating complement and attracting neutrophils that cause vasodilation and tissue damage.

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)

An antimalarial drug used to treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus that requires the patient to have an annual eye examination.

Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

A connective tissue disorder characterized by fibrotic, degenerative, and inflammatory changes in the skin, blood vessels, synovium, skeletal muscle, and internal organs due to excess collagen deposition.

CREST Syndrome

An acronym representing the key manifestations of limited systemic sclerosis: Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, Esophageal symptoms, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasia.

Reiter's Syndrome (Reactive Arthritis)

An autoimmune disorder triggered by infectious organisms, characterized by the triad of arthritis, urethritis, and conjunctivitis, with $850\text{\%}$ of patients testing positive for HLA-B27.

Fibromyalgia

A chronic pain disorder involving central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction and abnormal neurotransmitter levels (serotonin, norepinephrine), characterized by muscle pain at tender points, fatigue, and fibro fog.

Polymyositis

An autoimmune disorder that attacks connective tissue and muscle fibers, causing skeletal muscle weakness, a dusky red rash, Raynaud's, and elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels.

Sjogren's Syndrome

An autoimmune disorder marked by lymphocyte infiltration and immune complex deposition in exocrine glands, leading to xerophthalmia (dry eyes) and xerostomia (dry mouth).

Schirmer's Test

A diagnostic procedure used in Sjogren's Syndrome to measure tear production and evaluate xerophthalmia.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory and immune processes that damage the synovial membrane of joints.

Sleep Apnea

Interrupted breathing during sleep where PO2 and pH fall while PCO2 climbs, prompting brief arousals to restore airway patency; it is the leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Nocturnal Myoclonus

Periodic leg jerks or movements during sleep that lead to repeated awakenings, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness; treated with Sinemet or Imipramine.

Restless Leg Syndrome

A dopaminergic dysfunction disorder causing unpleasant sensorimotor sensations such as crawling, itching, or tingling in the legs before bed and during sleep.

Cataplexy

A sudden episode of muscular weakness triggered by strong emotions that can cause a person to collapse, commonly associated with narcolepsy.

Sundowner's Syndrome

Recurring confusion, agitation, and disruptive behavior occurring in the late afternoon or evening, frequently accompanying dementia.

Presbyopia

An age-related visual impairment occurring around $45-55$ years of age affecting accommodation, manifesting as eye muscle pain, headache, inability to adapt to dark light, vitreous floaters, and lightning flashes.

Macular Degeneration

A progressive disorder affecting the macula and central vision, categorized into non-exudative (dry, with Drusen) and exudative (wet, with weak blood vessel growth and potential bleeding) forms.

Retinal Artery Occlusion

A ocular emergency caused by emboli from conditions like atherosclerosis or valvular heart disease, presenting as sudden unilateral painless loss of vision.

Retinal Detachment

A medical emergency characterized by the separation of the retina from the underlying vascular layer, presenting with floaters, flashes of light, and the sensation of a curtain drawn across the visual field.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

A genetic disorder that destroys rod cells in the retina, leading to childhood night blindness and progressive loss of peripheral vision.

Retinoblastoma

A malignant intraocular tumor in children characterized by the Cat's Eye Reflex (leukocoria), protruding eyes, and rapid growth along the optic nerve.

Fuchs' Dystrophy

A hereditary corneal dystrophy onsetting in a patient's 20s to 30s, causing wart-like deposits on the corneal membrane, corneal edema, and cloudiness.

Cataracts

An opacification or clouding of the lens of the eye that affects over $22\text{ million}$ people over the age of $40$, managed surgically when it impairs activities of daily living.

Glaucoma

An optic neuropathy characterized by gradual loss of peripheral vision and intraocular pressure exceeding normal levels of $10-20\text{ mmHg}$.

Otosclerosis

A genetic disorder involving fixation of the footplate of the stapes in the oval window, causing slow progressive hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, and a reddish/pinkish-orange hue behind the tympanic membrane.

Tinnitus

The perception of sound heard in the head without an external stimulus; when unilateral, it may serve as a warning sign for an acoustic neuroma.