Page 1254 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

come to a specific clinical diagnosis.
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FIG. 38.1 The interrelationships among the diseases discussed in
this chapter. The diagram is somewhat simplified since polyarthritis
may be associated with polymyositis.

These inflammatory diseases include systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, nonerosive forms of
arthritis, vasculitis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Although all these
diseases have some form of autoimmune component, they do not

simply result from autoantibodies causing tissue destruction. Most
are associated with the presence of immune complexes and
complement in tissues resulting in chronic inflammation. Many
result from uncontrolled inflammatory cytokine production or
abnormalities in the complement system. Their initiating factors are

unknown, but some may be triggered by infectious agents acting
through toll-like receptors (TLRs). All exhibit a significant genetic
predisposition, commonly with linkage to the MHC.

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