Clin Lab: MSK 1 Flashcards
Signs that are evidence of synovitis
swelling, warmth, tenderness
burning” pain, or accompanied by numbness/tingling is more likely…
neuropathic pain
Pain accompanied by weakness is more likely…
muscle or nerve issue
Worse after inactivity is more likely…
inflammatory disorder (RA, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, etc)
Worse with activity, better with rest is more likely…
osteoarthritis
(tends to be worse on one side)
Symmetric joint involvement more likely…
systemic illness
Duration of pain that is associated with a viral/reactive cause…
< 3weeks
Duration of pain that is less likely to be a viral/reactive cause…
> 6 weeks
*think more long term chronic things like RA
Symptoms more associated with systemic illness
- fever
- night sweats
- skin manifestations (lupus or scleroderma)
- adenopathy
An younger/middle aged patient w/ joint pain think…
Lupus
An older patient w/ joint pain think…
OA
Monoarticular conditions
- OA
- Injury
- Septic arthritis*
- Crystal-induced (gout, CPPD)
- Neoplasms
What is so important about septic arthritis?
It is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Polyarticular w/ synovitis conditions
- Inflammatory joint dz
–> Infx (often viral)
–> Reactive arthritis
–> Psoriatic arthritis
–> RA
–> Crystal-induced
–> Systemic rheumatic illness**
–> Other systemic illness or malignancy (IBD)
–> Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
What bacterial infx can causes polyarticular w/ synovitis?
- Lyme Dz
- Gonococcal
- Staph
What viral infx can causes polyarticular w/ synovitis?
- Hep B or C
- Parvovirus
- Dengue virus
- Alphaviruses (chikungunya, equine encephalitis),
- HIV
- Mumps
- CMV
List rheumatic illnesses that can cause polyarticular w/ synovitis.
- lupus
- vasculitis
- systemic sclerosis
- polymyositis
- dermatomyositis
Polyarticular w/o synovitis conditions
- Fibromyalgia
- OA
- Neuropathic pain
- Depression
- Metabolic bone dz
- Endocrine disorder – hypothyroid, hyperparathyroid
- Plasma cell myeloma
Workup for Monoarticular
- Imaging
- Arthrocentesis w/ analysis
- Labs (if needed)
- Synovial biopsy (RARE)
Do you usually order imaging for monoarticular?
YES
we tend to get imaging when one joint is involved
When would you want an arthrocentesis w/ synovial fluid analysis?
diagnose septic arthritis or gout
Labs for Hemarthrosis w/o trauma
PT/INR, PTT, CBC
(checking for coag disorders like hemophilia)
Labs for evidence of joint inflammation w/o infx (septic) or crystals
- ESR/CRP, CBC, CMP
- Testing for systemic rheumatic dz IF suspicion of that dz
- Testing for Lyme dz IF suspicion is high
When would you do synovial biopsy?
- Fungal infx
- Sarcoidosis
- Lymphoma of the synovial joint
Workup for polyarticular w/ synovitis (red swollen joint)
- CBC, CMP, UA (uric acid crystals, Ca++ crystals)
- Arthrocentesis w/ synovial fluid analysis
- Labs based on clinical suspicion
–> ESR/CRP
–> Suspected systemic illness (RA, Lupus, Other systemic dz (IBD))
–> Viral antibodies (Hep B, C, Parvovirus B19)
–> Imaging – rarely needed - Synovial biopsy - rare
Workup for Polyarticular w/o synovitis
- CMP
- TSH / PTH
- Imaging – x-ray
- Screening for depression
Arthrocentesis w/ Synovial Fluid Analysis Indications
- joint effusion/pain - dx of underlying pathology
- therapeutic
Arthrocentesis w/ Synovial Fluid Analysis Indications: example of underlying pathology
- Infx (Septic arthritis)
- Arthritis
- Crystalline arthritis (gout, pseudogout)
- Synovitis (inflammation)
- Neoplasm
Arthrocentesis w/ Synovial Fluid Analysis Indications: therapeutic
Injection of anti-inflammatory meds into the joint
What does a synovial fluid analysis include?
- Color & clarity
- Viscosity
These are ordered separately & must tell the lab
- Gram stain & culture
- Cell count & differential
- Crystal analysis
- Cytology
Synovial Fluid Analysis: NORMAL
Clarity:
Color:
Viscosity:
WBC/mm3:
PMNs% (neutrophils):
Clarity: Transparent
Color: Clear
Viscosity: High
WBC/mm3: < 200
PMNs% (neutrophils): < 25%
Synovial Fluid Analysis: Non-inflammatory
Clarity:
Color:
Viscosity:
WBC:
PMNs% (neutrophils):
Clarity: Translucent
Color: Yellow
Viscosity: High
WBC: 200 - 2,000
PMNs% (neutrophils): <25%
Synovial Fluid Analysis: Inflammatory
Clarity:
Color:
Viscosity:
WBC:
PMNs% (neutrophils):
Clarity: Translucent
Color: Yellow
Viscosity: Low
WBC: 2000 - 10,000 (up to 100,000)
PMNs% (neutrophils): >50%
Synovial Fluid Analysis: Septic
Clarity:
Color:
Viscosity:
WBC:
PMNs% (neutrophils):
Clarity: Opaque
Color: Dirty Yellow
Viscosity: Variable
WBC: >80,000
PMNs% (neutrophils): >75%
Synovial Fluid Analysis: Hemorrhagic
Clarity:
Color:
Viscosity:
WBC:
PMNs% (neutrophils):
Clarity: Bloody
Color: Red
Viscosity: Variable
WBC: 200 - 2,000
PMNs% (neutrophils): 50 - 75%
Arthrocentesis w/ Synovial Fluid Analysis Contraindications
- Artificial joint/joint replacement
- Lesions of skin overlying injection site
What is gout?
a build up uric acids crystals in the joint space
(very painful during gout attack)
Describe Tophaceous gout
pt has gout–> develop nodules called tophi–> can cause ulcerations (can occur anywhere on the body)
Gout testing:
- Have to distinguish from septic (infected) joint
- Crystal analysis of synovial fluid
monosodium urate crystals (look like needles)
–> “yellow” – negatively birefringent - Uric acid level
–> Hyperuricemia can cause crystalline arthropathy
–> Not sensitive or specific
–> Can be low/normal during a gout attack
Immediate Tx for Gout
Prednisone 1st line
NSAID (indomethacin) 2nd line
Pain meds
Colchicine 4th line
Prevention of Gout Meds
- Allopurinol
- Probenecid
- Colchicine
What does CPPD stand for?
Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Deposition
CPPD is also known as…
pseudogout
Testing for CPPD diagnosis
- Crystal analysis of synovial fluid
–> CPPD crystals (square – rectangular)
—-> “Blue” – positively birefringent - Chondrocalcinosis on imaging
–> Calcium deposits in cartilage
What is a physiological sign that can be seen & is indicative of RA?
Ulnar deviation of the fingers
What meds can help prevent ulnar deviation in RA?
DMARDs
Lab Diagnostics for RA
- ESR/CRP
- Rheumatoid factor (RF)
- Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA)
What will be seen on imaging in RA
joint erosions & deformities (seen in longstanding RA)
Indications to order an RF factor
Patients with clinical symptoms consistent with RA
Classic symptoms that make you think RA
Symmetrical joint pain, inflammation, fingers & knees, hurts more in the morning & better w/ movement
Is the RF a screening test?
NO
RF Explanation
- IgM Ab are made against the constant region of IgG Ab (antibodies attacking antibodies)
- Associated w/ RA, but non-specific –> (+) in other conditions (i.e., SLE, scleroderma)
~ 70-80% of pts w/ RA will be RF+
–> Some pts may become RF+ at later date
Is RF specific or non-specific?
non-specific
What are the two Anti-citrullinated Peptide Abs (ACPA)?
- Anticyclic-citrullinated Ab (anti-CCP)
- Anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin Ab (anti-MCV)
What is Citrulline?
an amino acid
How does Citrulline form?
it is a derivative of arginine; post-translation modification
Are the Anti-citrullinated Peptide Abs (ACPA) specific or non-specific?
More specific for RA
How is Anti-citrullinated Peptide Abs (ACPA) used in relation to RA?
biomarker for dz progression
How do you diagnose RA?
- Clinical Dx
- Scoring system used (labs are one component)
- (+) RF & (+) ACPA highly specific for RA
- Also need to rule out other systemic rheumatologic dz like SLE
What PE findings are consistent w/ psoriasis?
Pitting of nails, silvery plaques that bleed
Labs for Psoriatic arthritis
- No definitive labs
- Lab testing mostly done to rule out other arthritises
- Some assoc. w/ HLA-B27 genotype
–> HLA = human leukocyte antigen
Psoriatic arthritis imaging changes
- “pencil-in-cup”
–> aka “Symmetric bone erosions of the margin” - Joint ankylosis (fusing) & joint destruction