Causes of mono-arthritis Flashcards
What does arthralgia mean?
Pain arising from a joint.
What does the term arthritis mean?
Inflammation of a joint.
What is mono-arthritis?
Arthritis of one joint.
What is oligoarthritis?
Arthritis of 2-4 joints.
What is polyarthritis?
Arthritis of >4 joints.
What is fibromyalgia?
A condition characterised by chronic widespread pain & allodynia.
What is septic arthritis?
Acute inflammation of a joint due to direct joint infection.
What are the main causes of septic arthritis?
Mainly bacterial:
> Staph aureus - most common.
> Gonococcus - in young adults.
> Tb.
Rarely viral or fungal.
What are the main symptoms of septic arthritis?
Pain.
Swelling.
Erythema.
What are the pre-disposing factors for septic arthritis?
Prosthetic joints. Immunsuppression. Elderly. Existing joint damage. IV drug abuse.
What is gout?
Arthritis due to uric acid crystals in the joint space.
What causes gout?
Hyperuricaemia.
What is uric acid formed from?
Purines.
What enzyme converts purine > uric acid?
Xanthine oxidase.
How is uric acid removed from the body?
Renal excretion.
What joint is most commonly affected by gout?
Metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe.
What are the causes of hyperuricaemia?
Purine rich diet (i.e. beer).
Increased purine synthesis (i.e. psoriasis).
Decreased renal excretion.
What drugs cause decreased renal excretion?
Aspirin.
Thiazide diuretics.
Furosemide.
Ethambutol & pyrazinamide.
What are the two types of drugs used for uric lowering therapy? Give examples.
Xanthine oxidase inhibitors:
> Inhibit uric acid synthesis.
> E.g. Allopurinol & Febuxostat.
Uricosuric agents:
> Increased the excretion of uric acid.
> E.g. Sulphinpyrazone, Probenecid, Benzbromarone.
What drug shouldnt be used for ULT in patients with renal impairment? What should be used instead?
Allopurinol shouldnt be used.
Benzbromarone can be used in patients with renal impairment.
What is pseudogout?
Arthritis caused by accumulation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate.
What are the causes of pseudogout?
Hyperparathyroidism. OA. Diabetes. Haemochromatosis. Acromegaly.
What demographic does pseudogout mainly affect?
Elderly women.
What demographic does gout mainly affect?
Middle aged men.
What joints does pseudogout mainly affect?
Knee’s & wrists.
What is reactive arthritis?
Arthritis that develops following an infection elsewhere in the body.
What is the most common cause of reactive arthritis?
Chlamidyia.
What is Reiters syndrome?
Characteristic signs of reactive arthritis which include:
> Arthritis of large joints.
> Inflammation of the eye (i.e. uveitis).
> Urethritis or cervicitis.
> Psoriasis.
What is sero-negative arthritis? Give some examples.
Arthritis with negative rheumatoid factor antibody in serum.
Examples:
> Reactive arthritis.
> Psoriatic arthritis - arthritis in individuals with psoriasis.
> Ankylosing spondylitis - chronic inflammatory arthritis of the vertebral column.
