Arthritis Flashcards
What is the most common type of joint disease?
Osteoarthritis
What is the etiology of osteoarthritis?
Biochemical breakdown of articular (hyaline) cartilage
What is the difference between articular cartilage and meniscus?
Articular cartilage lines the heads of bones - meniscus is a shock absorber
T/F: Catabolic activities of chondrocytes dominate in inflamed cartilage.
True
Leads to an unhealthy extracellular matrix
What inflammatory mediators are important in producing change in chondrocytes activity in inflamed cartilage?
IL-1B and TNFa
T/F: There will be an increased production of collagen in inflamed cartilage.
False
Decrease in collagen, increase in MMPs
T/F: Osteoarthritis is related to periodontal disease.
False
Rheumatoid arthritis
T/F: Rheumatoid arthritis is much more common in males.
False
Females
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Immunologically mediated joint inflammation
The ___________ is the site of initial inflammatory process.
Synovium
What is the pannus?
Eventually synovitis leads to growth of inflammatory mass called the pannus
Commonly seen over cornea, joint surface, or on a prosthetic valve
T/F: Chondrocytes are involved in both production and breakdown of cartilage.
True
What are three of the main destructive things produced by osteoclasts and chondrocytes that lead to the breakdown of bone and cartilage?
MMPs, cathepsins, and ROS
What happens in RA after the pannus is formed?
Joint invaded by fibrous connective tissue and eventually the bones will fuse
T/F: RA is triggered by a T cell mediated response to an infection.
True
People with certain MHC alleles are predisposed
__________ are heavily implicated in autoimmune disorders.
T helper 17
Defined by production of IL-17
Which antibody is an important diagnostic marker for RA?
Rheumatoid factor (RF)
_______ is defined as an antibody against the Fc portion of IgG.
Rheumatoid factor
Antibodies directed against _____________ are frequently discovered in patients with RA.
Citrullinated proteins
When are the antibodies directed against cyclic citrullinated peptide presented?
Often years before the joints are affected
What are the four possible drugs that can treat RA?
- NSAID
- DMARDS
- Glucocorticoids
- Opioids/capsaisin cream
What are DMARDS (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs)?
Categorized by their use to slow down progression of RA
NSAIDs and glucocorticoids do not actually slow down disease progression
What is a standard first treatment for RA?
NSAID and methotrexate
NSAID: treats pain and inflammation
methotrexate: DMARD acts as immunosuppressant
___________ is an enzyme inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, and works as a ____________ agent.
Methotrexate; chemotherapeutic
