Arthritis Flashcards
which arthritis is seropositive
rheumatoid arthritis
what conditions (other than rheumatoid arthritis) are seropositive
lupus
sjorgens
scleroderma
vasculitis
what are the seronegative types of arthritis (4)
ankylosing spondylitis
psoriatic arthritis
reactive arthritis
enteropathic arthritis
are women or males more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis (and by how much)
women are 3 times more likely
which age group does rheumatoid arthritis affect
any age
what are the risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (2)
genetics (HLA-DR4 gene)
smoking (increases likelihood of RA antibodies)
what are the triggers of rheumatoid arthritis
stress
infection
trauma
after a trigger, what happens in early rheumatoid arthritis (2)
autoantibodies (produced by B cells) react to trigger and affect synovium
cause hypertrophy of synovium (synovitis)
what type of hypersensitivity reaction is rheumatoid arthritis
type IV
what happens in early rheumatoid arthritis that continues in well established rheumatoid arthritis
synovitis
which type of cell (osteoclast or osteoblast) is activated in rheumatoid arthritis
osteoclast
what is the function of an osteoclast in rheumatoid arthritis
it ‘chews’ up bone = causes erosions
what time period distinguishes established rheumatoid arthritis from early rheumatoid arthritis
2 years since symptom onset
which joints are typically affected in rheumatoid arthritis (7+1 not)
wrist knee ankle hip TMJ first 2 vertebrae PIP
NOT DIP joints
is the distribution of affected joints in rheumatoid arthritis symmetrical or asymmetrical
symmetrical
how does rheumatoid arthritis present (7)
joint pain joint swelling early morning stiffness (>30 mins) improvement of symptoms with exercise rheumatoid nodules dry eyes corneal ulcers
what is early morning stiffness a red flag for
rheumatoid arthritis
what relieves the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
exercise
what investigations would you do for rheumatoid arthritis (3)
autoantibodies
xray
MRI
which autoantibodies are present in rheumatoid arthritis (2)
rheumatoid factor (aka rheumatoid IgM) anti-CCP antibodies (aka ACPA)
what is bad about looking for rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis
it is not specific to rheumatoid and not everyone with rheumatoid will have it
is rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP antibodies preferred for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
anti-CCP antibodies
is it possible to have neither anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor, but still have rheumatoid arthritis
yes
what does more anti-CCP antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis mean
worse condition
what would you see on xray of early rheumatoid arthritis
not much
swelling
what would you see on xray of late rheumatoid arthritis
erosions osteopenia (less density) around joints
when would you do an MRI for rheumatoid arthritis
after xray if xray wasnt diagnostic
what is the assessment score for rheumatoid arthritis
DAS28 assessment score
what does a DAS28 score of <2.6 mean
no rheumatoid arthritis
what does a DAS28 score of >5.1 mean
active rheumatoid arthritis
how does DAS28 assessment score work
squeeze joints (28, doesnt include feet) and count how many are tender/swollen
what is the symptomatic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
aspirin paracetamol NSAIDs (eg ibuprofen) steroid (eg prednisolone) opioids (eg codeine, morphine)
what is the long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
DMARDs
biologics
what is the first line DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis
methotrexate
what is the second line DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis after methotrexate
sulfasalazine
what is the third line DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis after methotrexate + sulfasalazine
hydroxycholorquine
what would you add on to methotrexate + sulfasalazine + hydroxychloroquine if the combination therapy wasnt working
biologics
which DMARD is used in replace of methotrexate if the side effects of methotrexate occur
leflunomide
what is the therapeutic window for long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
3 months from symptom onset (not a long time!)
what is the purpose of long term treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
prevention of deformities/disease progression
when on DMARDs for long term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, what needs to be monitored and why
bloods
for infection, immunosuppression, liver function (side effects of DMARDs)
what are the 2 indications for stopping methotrexate use in rheumatoid arthritis
pregnancy
side effects
how long before conception must methotrexate be stopped in rheumatoid arthritis
3 months
what DMARD is used in replacement of methotrexate in pregnancy for someone with rheumatoid arthritis
sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine
what DMARD is used in replacement of methotrexate when side effects occur, in someone with rheumatoid arthritis
leflunomide
what are the side effects of methotrexate (7)
pneumonitis (SOB and cough) infection/immunosuppression mouth ulcers hepatitis leucopenia pulmonary fibrosis nausea, diarrhoea
what is the dosage of methotrexate for someone with rheumatoid arthritis
15mg once per week
what supplement needs to be taken alongside methotrexate
5mg folic acid
how does methotrexate work
lowers antibodies in blood
what is a general side effect of all DMARDs
infection/immunosuppression
how does sulfasalazine work
the antibodies attack the sulfasalazine instead of the joint synovium
what are the side effects of sulfasalazine (5)
infection/immunosuppression nausea rash mouth ulcers neutropenia
what is the mechanism of hydroxychloroquine (what type of drug is it)
antimalarial drug
what are the side effects of hydroxychloroquine (6)
irreversible retinopathy infection/immunosuppression GI disturbance headache rash blood disorders
apart from the 4 DMARDs that are in the ‘standard’ rheumatoid treatment pathway, what are the other DMARDs that could be used in rheumatoid arthritis (3)
gold IM
penicillamine PO
azathioprine
after the ineffective use of 3 DMARDs, which biologic is used for rheumatoid arthritis
anti-TNF
what does an anti-TNF end in
-umab
when are biologics indicated for use in rheumatoid arthritis
DAS28 >5.1 = active disease
AND
when 2 DMARDs have been ineffective