Athropathies Flashcards
Osteoarthritis Xray
LOSS
- Loss of join space (narrowing)
- Osteophytic bony overgrowth on DIP (Heberden’s nodes)
- Subchondral sclerosis (white/density under cartilage- thickening of bone)
- Subchondral cyst: fluid-filled sac / holes which forms within a joint space
Rheumatoid Arthritis on Xray
LESS
Loss of joint space (narrowing) Erosions and joint desturction at MCP joints and carpal bones Soft tissue swelling Soft bones (osteopenia)
Joint destruction and deformity
Soft tissue swelling
Periarticular osteopenia
Boney erosions
RA hand signs
- Z shaped deformity to the thumb
- Swan neck deformity (hyperextended PIP with flexed DIP)
- Boutonnieres deformity (hyperextended DIP with flexed PIP)
- Ulnar deviation of the fingers at the knuckle (MCP joints)
?
- ulnar drift - 3rd, 4th, 5th fingers: swelling of the MCPJ causes the fingers to become displaced and tend toward the little finger
- trigger thumb: pain, stiffness/locking/catching when you bend/straighten the finger
- swan neck of right finger: DIP is permanently flexed and PIP in hyperextension
- multiple hand deformities
What is osteoarthritis?
wear and tear of synovial joints as a result of genetic factors, overuse and injury
RF: obesity, age, occupation, trauma, female, fhx
the imbalance between cartilage worn down and chondrocytes repairing it
osteoarthritis clinical features
pain and stiffness in joints worse with activity (inflammatory activity improves with symptoms) deformity instability reduced function in the joint
Hips Knees Sacro-iliac joints Distal-interphalangeal joints in the hands (DIPs) The MCP joint at the base of the thumb Wrist Cervical spine
osteoarthritis signs in hands
Haberdens nodes (in the DIP joints) Bouchards nodes (in the PIP joints) Squaring at the base of the thumb at the carpo-metacarpal joint Weak grip Reduced range of motion
osteoarthritis diagnosis
can be made witthout investigation if over 45, typical activity related to pain and morining stiffness <30 min
osteoarthritis management:
- patient education
- weight loss
- physiotherapy, OT, orthotics
4. analgesia: paracetamol, NSAIDs, capsaicin add oral NSAIDS and PPE opiates, codeine/morphine IA steroids joint replacement
what is rheumatoid arthritis?
autoimmune condition causing chronic inflammation of the synvoial lining of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa (synovitis)
RA clinical features
symmetrical
affects multiple joints
symmetrical polyarthritis
‘symmetrical distal polyarthropathy’
- pain
- swelling
- stiffness
- stiffness in small joint of hands feet, wrist, ankle, MCP and PIP
- large joints: knees, shoulders, elbows
systemic symptoms: fatige weight loss flu like illness muscle aches adn weakness
*worse with rest, improves with activity
RA genetic association and antibodies
genetic:
HLA DR4
HLA DR1
auto antibodies
RF rheumatoid factor targets the Fc portion of the IgG antibodies
anti-CCP autoantibodies are more sensitive and specific to RA than RF. can pre-date the development and give indication fo development.
Proximal Interphalangeal Joints (PIP) joints
Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints
Wrist and ankle
Metatarsophalangeal joints
Cervical spine
Large joints can also be affected such as the knee, hips and shoulders
*DIP almost never affected- likely to be herbenden’s nodes in osteoarthritis
what is palindromic rheumatism?
This involves self limiting short episodes of inflammatory arthritis with joint pain, stiffness and swelling typically affecting only a few joints. The episodes only last 1-2 days and then completely resolve. Having positive antibodies (RF and anti-CCP) may indicate that it will progress to full rheumatoid arthritis.
investigations of RA
clinical features Check rheumatoid factor If RF negative, check anti-CCP antibodies Inflammatory markers such as CRP and ESR X-ray of hands and feet US to evaluate and confirm synovitis
RA- diagnosis
- Diagnostic criteria come from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) / European League Against Rheumatism (ELAR) from 2010:
Patients are scored based on:
The joints that are involved (more and smaller joints score higher)
Serology (rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP)
Inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP)
Duration of symptoms (more or less than 6 weeks)
Scores are added up and a score greater than or equal to 6 indicates a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
- DAS28 Score
The DAS28 is the Disease Activity Score. It is based on the assessment for 28 joints and points are given for:
Swollen joints
Tender joints
ESR/CRP result
It is useful in monitoring disease activity and response to treatment.
RA management
steroids for flare ups
NSAIDS, COX-2 inhibitors (PPI)
monitor CRP and DAS28 for success of treatment
DMARDS methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine hydroxychloroquine (mildest) 2nd line- ^ combination 3rd line: methotrexate plus biological therapy- TNF inhibiotr 4th line: methotrexate plus rituximab
