Clinical skills - Infl Arthritis Flashcards
Polyarticular pain
Pain in at least 4 joints
Arthralgia
Aching in joints without swelling
Characteristics of infl arthritis
Early morning and inactivity stiffness - generally >1 hr, averages 3 hrs in RhA and parallels degree of joint infl
Systemic symptoms e.g lethargy, wt loss, pyrexia
Why we distinguish between infl and non-infl
Infl is potentially more serious
Many forms have systemic manifestations
Early recognition & intervention improves outcome
Common types of arthritis
Acute (self-limiting) infl
Chronic infl
Acute (self-limiting) infl arthritis
Infection related, viral e.g Rubella, Hep B, Streptococcus
Goes away by itself
What does acute infl arthritis present with
Sudden onset
Fever and systemic upset
Variable severity
6-12 weeks duration
Types of chronic infl arthritis
RhA (lasts more than 6 weeks) SpA - psoriatic, axial SpA Crystal arthritis - Gout, CPPD Connective tissue disease e.g. SLE, polymyostis Others e.g sarcoid
OA aetiology - secondary
Trauma Congenital disorders Metabolic Endocrine Neuropathic Paget's Infl arthritis
Clinical features of OA
Pain - activity related Transient morning/ inactivity stiffness Joint enlargement Limitation of movement Muscle atrophy Crepitus
OA distribution
DIP > PIP > MCP (v common) CMC thumb - squaring AC shoulder Hips Knees MTP Feet Facet
Classification criteria for RhA
4/7 criteria = RhA
Morning stiffness > 1hr Arthritis of >3 joint areas Hand involvement Symmetry Nodules Radiographic erosions RhF +ve
First 4 need to have been for 6 weeks
Clinical features of spondylarthrosis
Uveitis Psoriasis Hip arthritis Peripheral arthritis Dactylitis Enthesitis Psoriatic nail changes
Epidemiology of SpA
Slightly less common than RhA
Prevalence 0.5-1%
Caucasion > Asian > Afro-Caribbean
Proportional to freq of HLA-B27
Psoriatic arthritis
Arthritis usually follows but may precede psoriasis
Severity of joint and skin disease independent
Nail involvment in 80% and only 20% of psoriasis alone
Good prognosis esp in pauciarticular disease
Clinical subsets of arthritis
Monoarthritis/ oligoarthritis Asymmetrical polynarthritis (DIP predominant) 'Rheumatoid' polyarthritis Psoriatic spondylitis Arthritis mutilans
Hx in polyarthritis
Age Sex Mode of onset Severity of joint infl - intensity and no. swollen joints Temporal pattern of joint involvement Distribution of joint involvement Rheumatology hx
Distribution of joint involvement in polyarthritis
Small joint: MCP - RhA, DIP and PIP - OA
Large joint: Hip and foot - SpA or crystal
Lab investigations in polyarthritis
FBC ESR and CRP RhF, ANA, anti-CCP, HLA-B27 Uric acid Synovial fluid analysis
Radiology for polyarthritis
X-ray
Ultrasound
MRI
Classification of spondylarthrosis
Axial SpA Reactive arthritis Psoriatic arthritis Enteropathic arthritis Undifferentiated spondylarthritis
Concepts of familial disease in poly arthritis
Most of the arthritis “run in families”
Very few directly inherited
Many associated w/ HLA e.g. DR4 - RA, GCA & B27 - AS, spondyloarthritidies
HLA-B27 associated SpA’s
Ankylosing spondylitis Psoriatic arthritis Juvenile SpA Arthritis associated w/ IBD Reactive arthritis Undifferntiated SpA Acute Anterior Uveitis
Criteria for ankylosing spondylitis/ Axial SpA
Sacroilitis at least grade 2 bilaterally or grades 3/4 unilaterally
Low back pain and stiffness for <3 months that improves w/ exercise but isn’t relieved by rest
Limitation of motion of the lumbar spine in both the sagittal and frontal planes
Limitation of chest expansion relative to normal values correlated for age and sex
Infl back pain (spondylitis) clinical features
Gradual onset Early morning/ rest stiffness Better w/ movement No radical signs Usually at young(er) age Good response to NSAID
Long term features and complications of ankylosing spondylitis
Lung, heart, renal complications and osteoporosis usually late (>20yrs)
Slowly evolving, progressive spinal stiffness causing functional difficulties
Constitutional symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
Fatigue Pyrexia Wt loss Anaemia Increased ESR (20%)
Pathogenesis and radiology findings of SpA
Infl - bone marrow, oedema, erosions
New bone: shiny corners, fusion by syndesmophytes, ossification
Ossification
Natural process of bone formation
Investigations of ankylosing spondylitis
FBC, ESR/CRP
X-ray of SI joint
MRI
Treatments of ankylosing spondylitis
Diagnosis and monitoring disease activity to prevent development of deformities
Patient + physiotherapist to treat
NSAIDs biologic
DMARDs for peripheral joints only
Axial SpA treatment
NSAIDs Exercise Limited DMARD use Anti-TNF Secukinumab AS only BASDAI, BASMI, BASFI
BASDAI
Determines effectiveness of drug being used to treat
BASMI
Assesses spinal mobility
BASFI
Assesses functional limitations
ReA
Reactive arthritis - a sterile joint infl that develops after a distant infection
Systemic
Triggering infections usually in throat, urogenital or GI tracts
May be no preceding infection
Clinical features of ReA
Hx of infection up to 2 weeks prior
Family Hx
Infections
Infections seen in ReA
GI
Urogenital
Others e.g. meningococci, streptococci, staph
GI infections seen in ReA
Salmonella
Shigella
Yersinia
Campylobacter
Urogenital infections seen in ReA
Chlamydia
Neisseria
Systemic symptoms of ReA
Malaise
Fatigue
Pyrexia
Joint and muscle symptoms of ReA
Arthralgia –> disabling polyarthritis
Asymmetric
Mono/ oligo arthritis (in 85% of pts)
Large joints
Extra-articular MSK manifestations of ReA
Tenosynovitis
Enthesopathy
Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendinitis
Examination of joints in ReA
Red and warm
Shifting pattern
Dactylitis
Low back pain in chronic disease
Investigations of ReA
FBC Urea and electrolytes (U&E) Liver function tests (LFT) CRP ESR RhF Urinalysis Blood cultures
Investigation of synovial fluid in ReA
Gram stain
Polarised light microscopy
Culture
PCR
GI symptoms in ReA
Abdo pain
Diarrhoea
Management of acute ReA
Analgesia NSAIDs Steroids Abx? Rest Splinting Rehab
Management of chronic ReA
Arthralgia - NSAIDs
Physio
DMARDs
Differential diagnosis of ReA
Septic arthritis
Crystal arthritis
Psoriatic spondyloarthropathies
Psoriatic arthropathy presentation
Asymmetrical oligoarthritic: 30-40% Symmetrical polyarthritis: 30% DIP joint predominant: 10-15% Spondoarthritis: 10-20% Mutilans: <10%
Treatment of psoriatic arthritis
NSAIDs
SZP, MTX, LFN, CyA, apremilast
Biologics incl anti TNF, use kunumab
Physio/ OT/ Education
In some patients skin activity mirrors joint activity, therefore treat skin, joints improve
Enteropathic arthritis
Mainly ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
Often arthritis and gut symptoms linked
Associated w/ extra-intestinal manifestations of iBD
Lab tests for RhA
FBC
ESR, CRP
RhF - found in 80%
Anti-CCP
Predictive variables for erosions in RhA
RhF
2 or more swollen large joints
Disease duration > 90 days
Risk factors for development of RhA
Cigarette smoking Obesity Immunisation Blood transfusion Previous termination of pregnancy
Treatment of mild RhA
NSAIDs
Treatment of moderate RhA
DMARDs
Treatment of severe RhA
Combination therapy
Effective DMARDS
Methotrexate Salazopyrine (SZP) Hydoxychloroquinone Leflunomide Corticosteroids Ciclosporin Gold Azathioprine Cyclophophamide
Predictors of a poor prognosis in RhA
RhF Anti-CCP Baseline radiological score Nodules Acute phase proteins HAQ score Grip strength Swollen joint count
Biologics used to treat RhA
Anti - TNF Rituximab Abatacept Tocilizumab JAK inhibitors
When will you be eligible for biologic treatment for RhA
2 or more DMARDs incl methotrexate must be proven inadequate
Surgeries to treat RhA
Arthroplasty Synovectomy Tendon rupture Entrapment neuropathy Cervical decompression for myelopathy
DMARDS for spondyloarthropies
Effectivity has only been proven in the legs - not for use in the spine of sacroiliac joints
Examples of TNF Alpha blockers
Infliximab
Etanercept
Adalimumab
Certolizumab peg
Dosage of inflliximab
5mg/Kg Iv for 6-8 weeks
Dosage of Etanecerpt
25mg subcutaneously 2x a week
Dosage of Adalimumab
40 mg via injections every 2 weeks
Surgeries used to spondyloarthropies
Total hip replacement
Surgical spine fusion
Correction of spine deformities
Physical therapies used to treat spondyloarthropies
Physio Flexibility training Spa - exercise Swimming Walking
Causes of chronic infl
Persistent infections
Hypersensitivity diseases
Exposure to toxic agents
Primary granulomatous disease
Cell mediators involved in chronic infl
Histamine Serotonin Prostaglandin Leukotrienes Platelet-activating factor ROS Nitric oxide Cytokines Chemokines
Histamine in chronic infl
Vasodilation
Increased vascular permeability
Endothelial activation
Serotonin in chronic infl
Vasoconstriction
Prostaglandins in chronic infl
Vasodilation
Pain
Fever
Examples of growth factors
EGF TGF - alpha and beta PDGF FGF ILGF TNF
EGF
Epidermal growth factor
Regenberation of epithelial cells
TGF - alpha
Transforming growth factor - alpha
Regeneration of epithelial cells
TGF - beta
Transforming growth factor - beta
Stimulates fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis
Controls epithelial regeneration
PDGF
Platelet derived growth factor
Mitogenic and chemotactic for fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells
FGF
Fibroblast growth factor
Stimulates fibroblast proliferation
Angiogenesis
Epithelial cel regeneration