Autoimmunity 1

Details

Title

Autoimmunity 1

Type

Stage One

Module code

HLS013

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of the presentations, investigation and treatment of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease and systemic vasculitides*, be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

*Inflammatory myositis and variants

• Scleroderma and variants
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Wegener’s granulomatosis and other ANCA associated vasculitides
• Hypocomplementaemic urticarial vasculitis
• Cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis
• Giant cell arteritis
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• Haemolytic uraemic syndrome/TTP
• Bechet’s disease 
• Glomerulonephritis (membranous, post infectious and membrano proliferative).

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• appropriate laboratory investigations
• therapeutic interventions:
  • putative mechanisms of action of various immunological therapies
  • principles of the various therapeutic options to guide the most appropriate treatment for an individual patient
• a working knowledge of the evidence base for the use of various immunological therapies
• the evidence-base for the various therapeutic options (conventional immunosuppressive agents, biologics) available to treat.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• importance of understanding immunopathogenesis
• therapeutic options in these disorders.

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease and systemic vasculitides to direct a diagnostic immunology laboratory to perform, adapt and master the clinical skills necessary to manage:

• knowledge of therapeutic options and understanding of the principles of their actions to aid clinical decision making
• strategies to diagnose and monitor immunological diseases
• be familiar with national guidance on appropriate test selection and use where relevant, e.g. NICE.