Introduction to autoimmune rheumatic disorders

[Mary Mallozziberg]

Autoimmune rheumatic disorders include diverse syndromes such as

Autoimmune myositis
Eosinophilic fasciitis
Mixed connective tissue disease
Relapsing polychondritis
Sj#246;gren syndrome
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic sclerosis

Rheumatoid arthritis and the spondyloarthropathies and their variants are also immune mediated. The triggers and pathophysiology are incompletely understood for these disorders, but many aspects of pathogenesis are becoming clearer, enabling the development of more specific therapies.
Patients with most autoimmune rheumatic disorders are at increased risk of atherosclerosis.
Patients who receive moderate doses of corticosteroids plus another immunosuppressive drug should usually receive prophylaxis for opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii (see prevention of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia).
Corticosteroids also the increase risk of osteoporosis.