INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

Essential to the survival of organisms is their ability to get rid of damaged or necrotic tissues and foreign invaders, such as microbes. The host response that accomplishes these goals is called inflammation. This is fundamentally a protective response, designed to rid the organism of both the initial cause of cell injury (e.g., microbes, toxins) and the consequences of such injury (e.g., necrotic cells and tissues). Without inflammation infections would go unchecked, wounds would never heal, and injured tissues might remain permanent festering sores. importance of inflammation is that it can sometimes be inappropriately triggered or poorly controlled, and is thus the cause of tissue injury in many disorders. Inflammation is a complex reaction in tissues that consists mainly of responses of blood vessels and leukocytes. The body's principal defenders against foreign invaders are plasma proteins and circulating leukocytes (white blood cells), as well as tissue phagocytes that are derived from circulating cells. proteins and leukocytes in the blood have ability to home to any site where they may be needed Because invaders such as microbes and necrotic cells are typically present in tissues, outside the circulation,... circulating cells and proteins have to be rapidly recruited to these extravascular sites The inflammatory response coordinates the reactions of vessels, leukocytes, and plasma proteins to achieve this goal. Microbes, necrotic cells (whatever the cause of cell death) and even hypoxia can trigger the elaboration of inflammatory mediators, and thus elicit inflammation. Inflammation may be acute or chronic Acute inflammation is rapid in onset (typically minutes) and is of short duration, lasting for hours or a few days; its main characteristics are the exudation of fluid and plasma proteins (edema) andthe emigration of leukocytes, predominantly neutrophils (also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes). When acute inflammation is successful in eliminating the offenders the reaction subsides, but if the response fails to clear the invaders it can progress to a chronic phase. Chronic inflammation may follow acute inflammation or be insidious in onset. It is of longer duration and is associated with the presence of lymphocytes and macrophages, the proliferation of blood vessels, fibrosis, and tissue destruction. Inflammation is terminated when the offending agent is eliminated The inflammatory response is closely intertwined with the process of repair

At the same time as inflammation destroys, dilutes, and walls off the injurious agent, it sets into motion a series of events that try to heal the damaged tissue. Repair begins during inflammation but reaches completion usually after the injurious influence has been neutralized. injured tissue is replaced through regeneration of native parenchymal cells, by filling of the defect with fibrous tissue (scarring) or, most commonly, by a combination of these two processes

Inflammation may be harmful in some situations .

Mechanisms designed to destroy foreign invaders and necrotic tissues have an intrinsic ability to injure normal tissues. When inflammation is inappropriately directed against self tissues or is not adequately controlled, it becomes the cause of injury and disease.

Inflammatory reactions underlie common chronic

diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and lung fibrosis, as well as life threatening hypersensitivity reactions to insect bites, drugs, and toxins. For this reason our pharmacies abound with anti-inflammatory drugs, which ideally would control the harmful sequelae of inflammation yet not interfere with its beneficial effects. Inflammation may contribute to a variety of diseases that are not thought to be primarily due to abnormal host responses. chronic inflammation may play a role in atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, degenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease, and cancer RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

is an autoimmune disease that results in a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks flexible (synovial) joints. It can be a disabling and painful condition, which can lead to substantial loss of functioning and mobility if not adequately treated.

The process involves an inflammatory response of the capsule around the joints (synovium) secondary to swelling (turgescence) of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development of fibrous tissue (pannus) in the synovium destruction of articular cartilage and ankylosis (fusion) of the joints RA can also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, the membrane around the heart (pericardium), the membranes of the lung (pleura), and white of the eye (sclera), and also nodular lesions, most common in subcutaneous tissue Although the cause of RA is unknown, autoimmunity plays a pivotal role in both its chronicity and progression, and RA is considered a systemic autoimmune disease. It is a clinical diagnosis made on the basis of symptoms, physical exam, radiographs (X-rays) and labs.[1]

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that obstructs airflow,The obstruction is reversible,It involves difficulty in breathing due to Inflammation (swelling),Mucus in the airways,Tightening of muscles around the airways ,Coughing,Wheezing, a whistling sound,Shortness of breath,Chest tightness,Sneezing & runny nose,Itchy and inflamed eyes

Pancreatitis An acute inflammation process of the pancreas with associated escape of the pancreatic enzyme into surrounding tissue. The primary etiologic factors are alcoholism & biliary tract disease. May be a complication of viral or bacterial disease, peptic ulcer, trauma Sarcoidosis is a syndrome involving abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells (granulomas) that can form as nodules in multiple organs.[The granulomas that appear are usually not of the necrotizing variety and are most often located in the lungs or the lymph nodes, but virtually any organ can be affected. Association of autoimmune disorders has been frequently observed. The exact mechanism of this relation is not known, but some evidence supports the hypothesis that this is a consequence of Th1 lymphokine prevalence.[37 Systemic lupus erythematosus systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) that can affect any part of the body. the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage antibody-immune complexes precipitate and cause a further immune response SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women in child-bearing years ages 15 to 35

Glomerulonephritis
is a renal disease (usually of both kidneys) characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli, or small blood vessels in the kidneys. It may present with isolated hematuria and/or proteinuria (blood or protein in the urine); or as a nephrotic syndrome, a nephritic syndrome, acute renal failure, or chronic renal failure

associated with certain infections (bacterial, viral or parasitic pathogens), drugs, systemic disorders (SLE, vasculitis), or diabetes.

Atrophic gastritis
is a process of chronic inflammation of the stomach mucosa, leading to loss of gastric glandular cells and their eventual replacement by intestinal and fibrous tissues. As a result, the stomach's secretion of essential substances such as hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor is impaired, leading to digestive problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, and megaloblastic anemia.

It can be caused by persistent infection with Helicobacter pylori, or can be autoimmune in origin. Those with the autoimmune version of atrophic gastritis are statistically more likely to develop gastric carcinoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and achlorhydria. Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis (AMAG) is an inherited form of atrophic gastritis characterized by an immune response directed toward parietal cells and intrinsic factor. [1] The presence of serum antibodies to parietal cells and to intrinsic factor are characteristic findings. The autoimmune response subsequently leads to the destruction of parietal cells, which leads to profound hypochlorhydria (and elevated gastrin levels). The inadequate production of intrinsic factor also leads to vitamin B12 malabsorption and pernicious anemia. AMAG is typically confined to the gastric body and fundus