Case 9: connective tissue disorders, Ankylosing spondylitis, gout, CPPD Flashcards
1
Q
Anti-nuclear antibodies and disease in connective tissue disorders
A
- SLE=dsDNA, Smith
- DLE (discoid lupus)= histone antibody
- Diffuse systemic sclerosis: RNA pol III, SCL-70
- Sjogrnes: SSA (Ro), SSB (La)
- Nucleolar antibodies: SS andpolymyositis
- Centromere antibodies: Limited SS
2
Q
Sica symptoms
A
- Lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands
- Mucosal dryness - eyes, mouth, layrnx, pharynx & vagina
- xerophthalmia (dry eyes), xerostomia (dry mouth)
3
Q
Sjogren’s syndrome causes
A
- Primary: systemic autoimmune disease
- Secondary Sjogrens Syndrome when associated with another rheumatic condition or organ specific autoimmune disease: RA / SLE / Systemic Sclerosis / MCTD. Autoimmune Thyroiditis & Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
4
Q
Sjogren’s syndrome
A
- Increased risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma- most common subtype is MALT lymphoma
- Increased incidence in females
- Occurs in 40-50’s
- Core symptoms: sicca, fatigue, joint involvement
- Systemic, chronic inflammatory disorder causing lymphocytic infiltrates in the exocrine gland which can cause parotid swelling
5
Q
Sjogren’s syndrome symptoms
A
- Fatigue
- Dry eyes (gritty, dry, red, painful, risk of infection)
- Dry mouth (difficulty eating dry foods, dental caries, mouth ulcers)
- Parotid and submandibular gland swelling - infiltrative process, ductal stones - obstruction’ & localised lymphoma).
- Vaginal dryness - discomfort & infections
- Joint involvement
- Raynauls, myalgia, respiratory and GI disease and renal tubular acidosis
6
Q
Sjogren’s syndrome investigations
A
- Associated with: ANA, RF, ENA (Ro, La)
- Serial: ESR, Complement, Immunoglobulins / EP-useful for screening for lymphoma
- Schirmer’s Tear Test: positive if produces less then 5ml of tears in 5mins
- Salivary flow: spitting as much saliva as you can in a pot which is weighed
- Parotid and submandibular gland USS
- Minor labial gland biopsy: used when Ro and La negative
7
Q
Sjogrens syndrome management
A
- Symptomatic: Eye drops (& eye surgical techniques), Saliva replacement (or + to saliva secretion), Topical oestrogen creams, good dental hygiene
- Immunomodulatory: Hydroxychloroquine (for arthralgia and fatigue)
- Screen patients for HIV and Hepatitis C
8
Q
Mixed connective tissue disorder (MCTD)
A
- Mixture of RA, SLE, Myositis, Scleroderma
- Raynauds, digital ulcers
- Puffy hands
- Fatigue
- Muscle Involvement (inflammatory myopathy)
- Skin rash
- Arthritis
- ILD (Interstitial lung disease)
- PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension)
9
Q
MCTD investigations
A
- Has its own antibodies: RNP (anti-U1 RNP)
- Look for erosive arthritis
- If RNP positive screen for pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease
10
Q
Antiphospholipid syndrome
A
- Screened when presenting to rheumatologist with autoimmune connective tissue disorder as can overlap with other conditions
- An acquired autoimmune disorder
- Recurrent venous or arterial thrombosis and/or foetal loss
- Hypercoagulability and recurrent thrombosis can affect virtually any organ system: Peripheral venous system, CNS, Skin (levedo-reticularis rash)
11
Q
Presentation of antiphospholipid syndrome
A
- Peripheral venous system (DVT, PE)
- CNS (stroke, sinus thrombosis, seizures, chorea, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, headache)
- Obstetric (pregnancy loss, eclampsia)
- Pulmonary (PE, PH)
- Dermatologic (livedo reticularis, purpura, infarcts/ulceration)
- Cardiac (Libman-Sacks valvulopathy, MI, diastolic dysfunction)
- Ocular (amaurosis, retinal thrombosis)
- Adrenal (infarction/hemorrhage)
- MSK (AVN of bone)
- Renal (thrombotic microangiopathy)
12
Q
Antiphospholipid syndrome diagnostic criteria
A
- At least one clinical and one lab criteria
- Clinical: Vascular thrombosis (arterial or venous), Pregnancy morbidity (3 miscarriages, 1 late miscarriage, premature birth <34 weeks of healthy neonate due to severe preeclampsia, eclampsia or severe placental insufficiency)
- Lab criteria: Elevated levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) or immunoglobulin M (IgM) anticardiolipin (aCL) Anti–beta-2 glycoprotein I OR Lupus anticoagulant
- Lupus anticoagulant (DRVVT) must be on at least two occasions at least 12 weeks apart
13
Q
Planning for pregnancy in autoimmune connective tissue disorder
A
- COCP: not recommended with history of thrombosis, LAC or APL antibodies
- Increased risk of: pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, pre-term delivery and foetal growth restriction
- Disease inactivity for at least 6 months prior to conception
14
Q
Pregnancy- autoimmune connective tissue disorder
A
- Specialist unit with an MDT including an obstetrician and rheumatologist
- Disease activity should be measured at baseline and at regular intervals
- Maternal Ro/La: risk of foetal congenital heart block, If positive, a foetal cardiac scanning at 16-20 weeks
- Antiphospholipid syndrome: test antibody early, LAC (lupus anticoagulant) confers the strongest predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome in SLE. Assess for the need for therapeutic LMWH
- Low dose aspirin therapy
- Flares of disease should be treated promptly with the lowest effective dose of prednisolone
- Advise AGAINST pregnancy in some women- severe PAH
15
Q
DMARD’s in pregnancy
A
- Withdraw known teratogens: Mycophenolate, methotrexate and cyclophosphamide. Advice about termination, guide with foetal US
- Hydroxychloroquine in all SLE pregnancies
- Azathioprine is safe in pregnancy
- Rituximab is not teratogenic- avoid in 2nd and 3rd trimester due to neonatal B cell depletion
- In severe refractory maternal disease consider pulsed iv methylprednisolone, IVIG or 2nd or 3rd trimester cyclophosphamide
- Sexually active men (including those post vasectomy) are recommended to use condoms with teratogenic treatment due to the risk of transfer of the drug in seminal fluid
16
Q
Neonatal lupus
A
- Due to transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies
- Gives lupus like rash
- Manifestation: dermatological, cardiac (congenital heart block) and hepatic
17
Q
Summary of sjogrens syndrome, MCTD and APLS
A
- Sjogrens syndrome: Ro/La, sicca and fatigue, Lymphoma
- MCTD: RNP, combination of symptoms, PAH/Jt erosion
- APLS: DRVVT, anticardiolipin, Antiβ2glycoprotein, pregnancy morbidity, thrombosis
18
Q
Back pain causes
A
- Bone: malignancy, ankolysing spondylitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, disc herniation, spinal stensosi
- Nerve: cauda equina syndrome
- Muscle/skin: strain/zoster
- Thoracic: PE, Dissection
- Lumbar: AAA, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, pyelonephritis
- Pelvic- PVD, endometriosis
19
Q
Risk factors for Ankylosing spondylitis
A
- Males 20-30
- HLA-B27 associated spondyloarthropathy
20
Q
Pathophysiology of ankolysing spondylitis
A
- Chronic autoimmune inflammation
- Inflammation causes destruction of intervertebral joints and sacroiliac joint
- Fibrous bands are formed around spinal joints causing reduced mobility
- Syndesmophytes are formed causing reduced movement of the vertebrae and fusion of the vertebrae