Arthritis Flashcards
Autoimmune mediated inflammatory arthritis that leads to destruction of cartilage and bone. Results in soft and spongy joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Failure of articular cartilage and chondrocyte that leads to failure of the joint. Results in hard and bony joints.
Osteoarthritis
Is rheumatoid arthritis more common in females or males?
Females
Genetic risk factors for RA. What is the #1 genetic risk factor?
MHC Class II and SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) - citrulline residues sit in MHC II groove and cause pro-arthritic effects
In rheumatoid arthritis, what part of the joint becomes inflamed?
Synovial membrane
What is the name of the antibody against the Fc portion of IgG in rheumatoid arthritis? Is it specific for RA?
Rheumatoid factor
Not specific - seen in other autoimmune diseases
What are 3 cytokines involved in inflammatory arthritis?
TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1
What infection do we primarily worry about when using TNF inhibitors
TB
What are the 3 key pathological changes with osteoarthritis?
- Degradation of cartilage
- Thickening of subchondral bone
- Osteophyte formation
What cell is key in pathophysiology of osteoarthritis?
Chondrocytes - react to trauma and start to damage normal cartilage - release matrix degrading enzymes
1 cause of death in RA patients.
Cardiovascular disease
Stages of RA. Early, later, severe.
Early - PIPs swell
Later - Ulnar deviation, subluxation of MCPs
Severe - arthritis mutilans - complete joint destruction
Pannus
Hyperplasia from inflammation - invades tissue and degrades cartilage
What autoantibody has a high specificity for RA?
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (aCCP)
What autoantibody is erroneously called the lupus test and is present in 40% of RA patients?
Anti-nuclear antibodies
