Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0024141 (systemic lupus erythematosus)
 44,322 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An absolute indication for thymectomy exists in all cases with tumors of the thymus gland, however, preoperative differentiation between benign and malignant lesions is not always possible even with modern imaging methods. In extensive tumors of questionable operability preoperative transthoracic needle biopsy (guided by CAT-scan) is recommended. After establishing the histological diagnosis, preoperative radio- and/or chemotherapy can be considered. Certain immunological diseases are a relative indication for thymectomy. Its value is proven in myasthenia gravis, questionable however in ulcerative colitis and erythroblastopenia. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a contraindication.
 ...
PMID:[Indications for thymectomy]. 310 Aug 86

Parvoviruses are small single-strand DNA viruses. Human parvovirus (PV B19) was isolated in the 1970s and recognized as a pathogen in the 80s. Its role was first demonstrated in acute erythroblastopenia in patients with chronic haemolytic anaemia, then in epidemic megalerythema. More recently PVB19 has been shown to be the aetiologic agent in fetal loss and chronic infection in immunodepressed patients. Further attention has focused on rheumatologic manifestations, particularly in prolonged joint diseases raising the problem of differential diagnosis and a possible pathogenic relationship with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinically, subjects with parvovirus B19 infection have flu-like manifestations of joint pain and myalgia lasting for about 1 week. Generally, the joint pain is symmetrical, of inflammatory type usually involving proximal joints (phalangeal joints in two-thirds of the cases). Acute back pain or associated extra-articular signs are often absent. Signs regress spontaneously in 10 to 15 days although longer periods have been observed. Diagnosis can be confirmed by ELISA identification of specific IgM antibodies. Nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs are generally effective.
 ...
PMID:[Rheumatic manifestations of parvovirus B19 infection]. 789 71

The association between thymoma and autoimmunity is well known. Besides myasthenia gravis, which is found in 15 to 20% of patients with thymoma, other autoimmune diseases have been reported: erythroblastopenia, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory myopathies, thyroid disorders, Isaac's syndrome or Good's syndrome. More anecdotally, Morvan's syndrome, limbic encephalitis, other autoimmune cytopenias, autoimmune hepatitis, and bullous skin diseases (pemphigus, lichen) have been reported. Autoimmune diseases occur most often before thymectomy, but they can be discovered at the time of surgery or later. Two situations require the systematic investigation of a thymoma: the occurrence of myasthenia gravis or autoimmune erythroblastopenia. Nevertheless, the late onset of systemic lupus erythematosus or the association of several autoimmune manifestations should lead to look for a thymoma. Neither the characteristics of the patients nor the pathological data can predict the occurrence of an autoimmune disease after thymectomy. Thus, thymectomy usefulness in the course of the autoimmune disease, except myasthenia gravis, has not been demonstrated. This seems to indicate the preponderant role of self-reactive T lymphocytes distributed in the peripheral immune system prior to surgery. Given the high infectious morbidity in patients with thymoma, immunoglobulin replacement therapy should be considered in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia who receive immunosuppressive therapy, even in the absence of prior infection.
 ...
PMID:[Thymoma and autoimmune diseases]. 2836 91