Core Conditions/2 Key things Flashcards
Asthma: adult stepwise management
SABA → ICS → add LTRA → switch to LABA + ICS ± LTRA → swap to MART ± LTRA → increase ICS, seek expert advice
Asthma: example of each type of drug
SABA: salbutamol
ICS: beclometasone
LTRA: montelukast
LABA: salmetrol
SAMA: ipratropium bromide, tiotropium
Acute asthma: PEFR criteria for a life threatening, severe and moderate asthma attack
Life threatening: <33% best/predicted
Severe: 33-50% best/predicted
Moderate: 50-70%
Pulmonary embolism: treatment
Oral apixaban for at least 3 months, or give LMWH if unsuitable
Pulmonary embolism: what might you see on an ABG?
Respiratory alkalosis as high respiratory rate causes patient to blow off extra CO2
Community acquired pneumonia: what is the CRB-65 score?
Confusion = 1
Resp rate ≥ 20 = 1
Systolic BP <90 = 1
65 years or older = 1
Score of 2 or more → consider hospital admission
CAP: antibiotic treatment?
500 mg amoxicillin PO TDS for 5 days (low risk)
OR
IV co-amoxiclav for 5 days (high risk)
Hospital acquired pneumonia: definition
New infection appearing > 48 hours after admission
HAP: most likley organism
s.pneumoniae
COPD: what will spirometry show?
Obstructive picture with FEV1/FVC ratio <0.7
COPD: what is the MRC dysponea scale?
Graded from 1 to 5:
grade 1 = not troubled except during strenuous exertion
grade 4 = stops for breath after 100 metres
grade 5 = too breathless to leave the house/breathless during dressing/undressing
What is alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
ɑ1AT is a glycoprotein mainly produced by the liver , it balances neutrophil-protease enzymes in the lungs, ∴ deficiency can lead to increased elastase, breaking down alveolar walls and causing emphysematous changes
How do you treat a large pleural effusion?
Drain large pleural effusions slowly, max. 1.5 L at a time, with 2 hour intervals.
Rapid drainage can lead to re-expansion pulmonary oedema.
Pneumothorax: 3 risk factors
Smoking
Marfan’s
Menstruation in women with endometriosis
Treatment of a pneumothorax:
Primary:
- <2cm rim on CXR and not SOB = discharge, follow-up in 4 weeks
- >2cm rim or SOB = aspirate (to to twice then consider chest drain)
Secondary:
- <2cm rim, no SOB, <50 years = aspirate
- >2cm rim, or SOB, or >50 = chest drain
What is a tension pneumothorax?
Damage to the pleura allows air to continuously enter the pleural space, but it cannot leave.
Trapped air compresses the lungs, heart, blood vessels and other structures in the chest.
How do you treat a tension pneumothorax?
If suspected, do a thoracostomsy (needle decompression) before waiting for a CXR.
AKI: define stage 1, 2 and 3 AKI
Stage 1: 1.5-1.9 times baseline increase in creatinine OR <0.5 ml/kg/hr urine output for 6 hours
Stage 2: 2-2.9 times baseline increase in urine output OR <0.5 ml/kg/hr urine output for 12 hours
Stage 3: 3 times baseline increase in creatinine OR <0.5 ml/kg/hr urine output for 24 hours OR anuria for 12 hours-
What is the most common type of AKI?
Pre-renal AKI, typically secondary to renal hypoperfusion
Renal hypoperfusion can occur due to: hypotension (cardiac failure, sepsis), reduced circulating volume (haemorrhage, dehydration), oedematous state, renal arterty occlusion, drugs (ACEi/NSAID)
Give three types of intrinstic AKI and a cause of each:
- Vascular: large vessel atherosclerosis, thromboembolic disease, small vessel disease (secondary to vasculitis or malignant HTN)
- Glomerular: primary (necrotising glomerulonephritis, malignancy), secondary (systemic disease e.g. SLE, vasculitis)
- Tubulointerstitial: acute tubular necrosis, acute intersititial nephritis
What is acute tubular necrosis (ATN)?
Anoxia of renal tissue leads to necrosis.
Can be caused by: decreased renal perfusion, nephrotoxic drugs, myoglobin (rhabdomyolysis), multiple myeloma
Can take up to 6 weeks to regenerate, may require haemodialysis in the interim.
What is a post renal AKI?
AKI caused by obstruction, can occur anywhere along the urinary tract from the renal pelvis to the urethra. Leads to hydronephrosis. Aim of treatment is to remove or bypass obstruction e.g. nephrostomy, bladder catheter, dilatation of strictures.
Define CKD:
Reduced kidney function (eGFR) for >3 months (measured on two separate occaisons) with evidence of kidney damage e.g. structural abnormality of USS, persistent sediment (haematuria/proteinuria), hx of renal transplant.
What investigations might be used to diagnose CKD? (3)
First pass morning urine sample to check albumin:creatinine ratio (>3 mg/mmol confirms proteinuria)
Low calcium can also indicate CKD (as kidneys are not activating vit D and ∴ less calcium is absorbed in the gut)
Bilateral small kidneys on USS
CKD is graded in how many stages? what criteria is included in the final/worst stage?
Stages 1 to 5
Stage 5: established renal failure, eGFR <15 or on dialysis
(Renal replacement therapy is required once eGFR <10)
Nephrotic syndrome: classic triad
- Proteinuria >3g in 24 hours
- Hypoalbuminemia - serum albumin <25g/L
- Peripheral oedema (rapid and severe pitting oedema)
Nephrotic syndrome:
- Give two causes
- How do you manage it?
Causes:
Primary = minimial change disease
Secondary = diabetes/SLE/amyloid
Tx: fluid restriction, diuresis (furosemide), tx underlying cause
Nephritic syndrome: 3 signs
- Haematuria (macro or microscopic)
- Oliguria
- Proteinuria (much less than in nephrotic though)
(4. Fluid retention/oedema)
Nephritic syndrome:
- Give 2 causes
Primary: IgA nephropathy
Secondary: Post-strep, vasculitits
Kidney transplant: what is hyperacute transplant rejection?
Type II hypersensitivity reaction, onset immediately (24-48 hours post-op), caused by pre-existing antibodies against donor’s ABO/HLA antigens.
No treatment possible, must remove graft.
Kidney transplant: give 5 possible complications and when they might occur
- Hyperacute transplant rejection: immediately post-op
- Acute tubular necrosis of graft: first few weeks post-op
- Acute graft failure: within 6 months post-op
- Chronic graft failure/recurrence of original renal disease: >6 months post op
- Post-transplant urinary leak: early post-op
- Other: UTI, vascular thrombosis
Polycystic kidney disease: what are the two types?
Autosomal dominant: presents in adulthood, PKD1 (chromosome 16) mutation
Autosomal recessive: presents antenatally, most won’t live past childhood, causes Potter syndrome, liver cirrhosis, and lung hypoplasia
BPH: what scoring systems are used to help determine management?
International Prostate Sx Score: 8-19 = moderately symptomatic, 20-35 = severely
Bother score: impact of LUTS on QoL, score >3 requires treatment
BPH: what are the first and second line drugs used?
- Alpha blockers e.g. tamsulosin
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors e.g. finasteride (NB: must used condoms, excreted in semen)
Prostate carcinoma: what investigations are needed? (4)
- PSA level
- DRE: hard, craggy, asymmetrical, loss of central sulcus
- MRI prostate: reported on Likert scale, if >3 then…
- Prostate biopsy - transrectal USS guided or transperineal
Prostate carcinoma: treatment options (4)
- Watchful waiting
- External beam radiotherapy
- Hormone therapy e.g. biclutamide (androgen receptor blocker), goserelin (GnRH agonist)
- Surgery e.g. radical prostatectomy
Lower UTI: what might a urine dipstick show?
Positive nitrates
Positive leukocytes
RBCs
Lower UTI:
Treatment in women, men, pregnant people
Nitrofurantoin 100 mg BD PO for 3 days in women, 7 days in men or pregnant women, or…
Trimethoprim 200 mg BD PO for 3 days in women, 7 days in men
NB: trimethoprim is CI in the first trimester of pregnancy, and should never be co-prescribed with methotrexate
NB: avoid nitrofurantoin in patients with eGFR <45, avoid in third trimester of pregnancy (risk of neonatal haemolysis)
How might acute prostatitis present?
- Recent hx of UTI, STI or catheter
- Low grade pain (sometimes radiating to the back), fever, LUTs progressing to anuria, haematospermia
- Soggy, boddy prostate on DRE
How do you treat prostatis?
Ciprofloxacin, analgesia
What is the most common kidney tumour in adults?
Renal cell carcinoma: typically papillary, chromophone or collecting duct carcinoma
What staging system is used for renal cell carcinoma?
Roberston staging 1 to 4:
1 = renal capsule only
2 = invades perinephric fat
3 = invades renal vein/IVC/local lymph nodes
4 = invades distal viscera/distant mets (commonly lung [50%] and bone [30%])
What is a Wilm’s tumour?
Nephroblastoma: the most common renal tumour in children.
Presents with abdominal mass and haematuria.
Bladder cancer:
What is the most common type?
Give one other type:
What causes both types?
- Transitional cell carcinoma (90%) - arises from exposure to aromatic amines and smoking
- Squamous cell carcinoma - schistosomiasis (parasite), long term catheters
2 week wait criteria for bladder cancer:
45+ years and: unexplained visible haematuria without UTI or visible haematuria persisting/recurring after successful tx for UTI
60+ years and: unexplained non-visisble haemturia and dysuria or raised WCC on blood test
Urolithiasis: 3 anatomical areas where stones commonly get stuck
- Pelvicureteric junction
- Pelvic brim
- Vesicoureteric junction
Urolithiasis: gold standard diagnostic test
non-contrast CT KUB
What is a hydrocele? How does it present?
Peritoneal fluid collection between the layers of the tunica vaginalis.
Presents as a painless swelling of the testicle. Transilluminates on examination.
Surrounds the testis, will NOT feel seperate.
Tx of primary and secondary hydrocele:
Primary hydrocele in a newborn: self-resolves within first few months, treat surgically if not resolved by 1-2 years
Secondary: monitor/surgery depending on severity/impact, aspirate if poor surgical candidate
Which side is a varicocele more common on? Why?
Left side because of venous drainage:
left gonadal vein → left renal vein → IVC (longer course than the right gonadal vein which drains directly into the IVC ∴ varicocele is more common on the left side)
What is an epididymal cyst?
Benign, non-painful cystic swelling of the epididymis (lies above and behind the testis).
Will transilluminate on examination and feel seperate to the testis.
What is epididymo-orchitis? What causes it?
Inflammation of the epididymis and testicle.
2/3rds are infective e.g. STI, UTI, mumps
1/3 are idiopathic
What sign on examination can help you differentiate between epididymo-orchitis and torsion?
Phren’s sign: elevation of the scrotum reduces the pain → likely epididymo-orchitis
Reduced/absent cremasteric reflect → torsion
Testicular torsion: how quickly must it be detected and treated?
Within 4-6 hours
Testicular torsion: 4 risk factors
- Youth
- Poorly descended testis
- Bell clapper deforminity (high attachment of the tunica vaginalis)
- Previous torsion
What invesitgation is needed in testicular torsion?
USS doppler (will show decreased arterial flow)
What is the most common type of testicular cancer?
Germ cell tumour e.g. teratoma and seminoma
(therefore investigations includes urine hCG and AFP)
4 risk factors for testicular cancer:
- Family hx
- Cryptorchidism (undescended testis, even after surgery)
- Infertility
- Kleinfelter’s syndrome (XXY - tall, gynaecomastia, small testes)
What is the difference between an indirect and direct inguinal hernia?
Direct: enters the inguinal canal through Hesselbach’s triangle (bordered by: rectus abominis, epigastric vessels, poupart’s ligament), exits at the superficial ring
Inirect: enters the inguinal canal at the deep/internal ring, exits at the superficial ring
3 possible complications of an inguinal hernia:
- Incarceration: hernia cannot be reduced, may lead to obstruction and strangulation
- Obstruction: passage of faecal matter is blocker, presents with vomiting, abdo pain, absolute constipation
- Strangulation: base of hernia becomes tight and blocks off blood supply → surgical emergency
Pyelonephritis: management including oral, IV and options if pregnant
- Send MSU first!
- Oral first line: cefalexin
- IV first line: ceftrixaone
Pregnant: oral cefalexin, IV cefuroxime
Give three medications that can be used to treat urge incontinence:
- Tolterodine - antimuscarinic
- Oxybutinin - antimuscarinic
- Mirabegron - B3 receptor agonist
Give one medication that can be used to treat stress incontinence:
Duloxetine - causes stronger urethral contractions to increase sphincter tone
Which type of incontinence is more common in men? What are some underlying causes?
Urge
BPH, stones, neuropathic (MS, Parkinson’s)
Which type of incontinence is more common in women?
Stress
How will prolonged vomiting affect serum Cl-, K+ and pH?
Hypochloraemia - due to vomiting HCl
Metabolic alkalosis - due to loss of acid (HCl)
Hypokalaemia:
Dehydration and sodium loss stimulates aldosterone via RAAS,
Aldosterone triggers sodium to be reabsorbed from the collecting duct in exchange for potassium,
Potassium is lost in the urine -> hypokalaemia
How will prolonged diarrhoea affect blood pH?
Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis: due to loss of HCO3- in diarrhoea
Both IgA nephropathy and post-strep glomerulonephritis can present with a recent URTI and haematuria, what other presenting symptoms might help you differentiate between the two?
IgA:
- Develops 1-2 days post-URTI
- Young males
- Macroscopic haematuria
Post-strep:
- Develops 1-2 weeks post-URTI
- proteinuria
- Low complement
What is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
Kidneys are resistant to ADH resulting in inadequate reabsorption of water in the collecting ducts
Which genetic mutations are associated with coeliac disease?
HLA-D2Q and HLA-DQ8
What investigations are needed for coeliac disease? What might they show? (6)
- FBC - low Hb
- Low B12
- Low ferritin
- LFTs - raised ALT
- IgA TTG: if positive then do a duodenal biopsy via upper endoscopy whilst on a gluten containing diet, should show: increased intraepithelial WBCs, villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia
- Other: bone profile, vit D, stool sample
Upper GI malignancy 2 week wait referral criteria:
Dysphagia at any age
>55 years old with weight loss and any of the following: upper abdo pain, dyspepsia, reflux
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
Metaplasia of normal stratified squamous epithelium of the distal oesophagus to columnar epithelium, as a result of GORD
How do you treat a peptic ulcer caused by H.Pylori?
Triple therapy: PPI, clarithromycin, amoxicillin
Give three types of peptic ulcer - which is more common?
Gastric: mainly in elderly people on the lesser curve of the stomach
Duodenal: four times more common than gastric
Jejunal: associated with zollinger-ellison syndrome
Give two types of oesophageal cancer:
Squamous cell: often proximal oesophagus, associated with smoking, alcohol and chronic achlasia
Adenocarcinoma: often distal oesophagus, associated with GORD/Barrett’s, obesity, high fat diet, incidence is rising
What is a Krukenberg tumour?
An ovarian tumour normally resulting from metstatic gastric cancer spreading via the lymphatic vessels
What is ulcerative collitis?
Inflammatory bowel disease limited to the colon and rectum.
Continuous inflammation, affecting the superficial mucosa only.
Smoking is protective.
Ulcerative colitis is classified as mild, moderate and severe using which index?
Truelove and Witt’s severity index
Investigations for ulcerative collitis:
Faecal calprotectin (>150 = IBD likely)
FBC - anaemia
U&E
LFTs
ESR & CRP - raised
Gold standard diagnostic test: colonoscopy with at least 2 biopsies from 5 different sites
Treating a severe acute UC flare:
IV steroid
Consider adding IV clicospoinr or infliximab
Consider surgery, likelihood increased if: stool freq >8/day, pyrexia, tachycardia, dilatation, low albumin or Hb, high platelets or CRP
Treating a mild-moderate UC flare:
- Topical ASA (mesalazine, sulfasalazine)
- Still not better after 4 weeks? Oral ASA
- Still not better? Short course of oral steroid
Maintaining remission in UC:
- Topical or oral lose dose ASA (mesalazine, sulfasalazine)
- Consider adding azathioprine or mercaptopurine if: had two or more flares in previous 12 months or remission is not maintained by ASA
6 complications of ulcerative colitis:
- toxic megacolon
- haemorrhage (long standing anaemia)
- VTE - acute flare causes high risk of DVT, give LMWH
- hypokalaemia
- colonic cancer
- osteoporosis
What is Crohn’s?
Transmural granulomatous inflammation affecting any part of the gut from the mouth to the anus
Investigations for Crohn’s:
- Gold standard: endoscopy
- Colonoscopy IF not septic/risk of perforation
- May have barium studies to show strictures, fistulae, rose thorn ulceration
Inducing remission in Crohn’s:
- first line = prednisolone
- may be given 5-ASA if very mild disease only in the colon
- May be given budesonide if mild/moderate ileocaecal disease only
Maintaining remission in Crohn’s:
- mild-moderate disease: azathioprine or mercaptopurine first line, methotrexate second line
- severe disease: inflixima, adalimumab (can only be used for 12 mo at a time)
How do you treat a perianal fistula?
Examination only ever done under anaesthetic
MRI
Treat with oral metroniadazole & surgical ‘seton’ - a threat to keep the tract open, preventing premature skin closure leading to an abscess
How do you treat c.diff? What about a life-threatening episode?
First episode: oral vancomycin
Life threatening: oral vancomycin and IV metronidazole
How do you treat an upper GI bleed? (8)
What else must you do if it is caused by oesophageal varices? (3)
- ABCDE - determine stability
- Cannulas (2xs large bore)
- Crystalloid fluids - IV saline 500 ml over 15 mins
- Cross match 2 units and coagulation screen
- Correct clotting abnormalities - give platelets if <50 x 10⁹/L, give FFP if PT more than 1.5 xs normal
- Catheter - monitor fluid balance, aim for >30 mls/hr urine output
- Call for help! And keep nil by mouth
- Camera - urgent endoscopy immediately after resus, within 24 hours, then IV PPI infusion for 72 hours, oral PPI for 4-8 weeks
Varices:
- Terlipressin (ADH analogue)
- Prophylactic co-amoxiclav to reduce risk of rebleeding
- Variceal banding via OGD
Your patient has just had an OGD to treat an upper GI bleed, what medication do they need?
IV PPI for 72 hours, then oral for 4-8 weeks
What medication can you give to prevent oesophageal varices bleeding?
beta-blocker
What is Charcot’s triad? What is it a sign of?
Fever
RUQ pain
Jaundice
= ascending cholangitis
What is Reynold’s pentad?
Charcot’s triad (fever, RUQ pain, jaundice) AND hypotension and confusion
= severe ascending cholangitis, increased mortality
What investigations are needed for acute cholecystitis? What would they show?
- Normal LFTs
- Raised infection markers (ESR, CRP)
- USS is first line diagnostic test, if still uncertain then HIDA scan
How does acute cholecystitis present? (4)
RUQ pain - may radiate to the right shoulder
Fever
Murphy’s sign
Nausea & vomiting
How does acute cholecystitis present? (4)
RUQ pain - may radiate to the right shoulder
Fever
Murphy’s sign
Nausea & vomiting
Signs on examination of a patient with appendicitis: (3)
- Tender RIF
- Low grade pyrexia
- Positive Rosving’s sign (RIF pain elicited by pressing on LIF)
What investigations are needed for suspected appendicitis?
Urine hCG
USS abdo/pelvis if ?gynae
Bloods: raised CRP, ESR, etc.
Causes of acute pancreatitis: (10)
I GET SMASHED
Idiopathic
Gallstones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroid use
Mumps
Autoimmune
Scorpion sting
Hypercalcaemia & hypertriglycerideamia
ERCP
Drugs/medications e.g. sitagliptin, sodium valproate
What are the dvla rules about driving if you have diabetes?
If you have more than one severe hypoglycaemic episode in the previous 12 months you must surrender your licence while the DVLA review the situation. You can re-apply in 3 months.
Severe = symptomatic hypoglycaemic episode requiring help.
If you are a group 2 driver (HGV/lorry) you must notify the dval after only one severe episode.
What happens to urine osmolality after water deprivation and after synthetic ADH in cranial DI, nephrogenic DI and primary polydipsia?
Cranial:
- Low after deprivation
- High after ADH
(because the kidneys can respond to the ADH)
Nephrogenic:
- Low after deprivation
- Still low after ADH
(kidneys can’t respond to ADH)
Primary polydipsia:
- High after deprivation
- High after ADH
What is primary polydipsia?
Patient drinking excessive quantities of water. Their ADH is functionally normally.
Vitamin C deficiency:
Loose teeth
Poor wound healing
Bleeding gums, epistaxis, haematuria
Malaise
Tx of an acute migraine
900 mg dispersable aspirin
Triptan (injection>nasal spray>tablet)
How long do migraines usually last?
4 to 72 hours
1st and 2nd line prophylactic tx of migraines:
1st line: propranolol 80-160 mg daily + avoid triggers
2nd line: topiramate
How does a cluster headache present? (3)
- Severe unilateral pain behind the eye
- Duration 15 mins - 3 hours
- Sudden ‘clockwork’ onset
Acute & prophylactic tx of cluster headaches:
Acute: oxygen & triptan
Prophylactic: verapamil
Trigeminal neuralgia presentation:
~2 seconds of stabbing pain unilaterally in trigeminal nerve distribution, face screws up with pain
Tx of trigeminal neuralgia:
Carbamazepine, ?surgical decompression of nerve
Presentation of GCA/Temporal arteritis: (8)
- Age >50
- New headache
- Tender scalp
- Tender temporal artery
- Jaw claudication
- Amaurosis fugax
- Raised ESR
- Often associated with polymyalgia rheumatica
Tx of GCA/temporal arteritis:
Prednisolone immediately PO or IV methylprednisolone if visual loss present
Urgent biopsy within two weeks
Continue steroids for 2 years
Two risk factors for a subdural haemorrhage:
- Elderly
- Alcoholics
Trauma shears bridging veins which are more stretched and vulnerable in an atrophied brain (due to age or chronic alcohol use)
How does a subdural haemorrhage affect consciousness levels?
Fluctuating consciousness levels.
Symptoms of headache and drowsiness can be present for weeks as ICP increases slowly.
NB: crescent shape on CT head
How does an extradural haemorrhage present?
Deteriorating consciousness level, sometimes with a lucid interval then another sudden deterioration.
Associated with focal neurological signs
Lemon shape on CT head
Common pathophysiology of an extradural haematoma:
Trauma to the temporal bone damages the middle meningeal artery or vein
Rheumatoid arthritis:
1. Symmetrical or asymmetrical arthritis?
2. Worse or better with activity?
3. Morning stiffness?
4. Other associated symptoms (5):
- Symmetrical distal polyarthritis
- Better with activity, worse with rest
- Morning stiffness often present
- Flu-like illness, muscle aches, weight loss, weakness, fatigue
What is the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis?
How would you explain this to a patient?
Autoimmune condition where chronic inflammation of the synovial lining of joints, tendon sheaths and bursa causes pain, swelling and deformity.
“The body’s immune system normally protects you by fighting infection and other illness. RA is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system gets confused and starts attacking your own healthy joints. This causes persistent inflammation of the lining of joints and tendons, which results in pain and swelling. It normally affects small joints in your hands and feet. RA can also cause flu-like symptoms of fatigue, weight loss and muscle aches”
Rheumatoid arthritis:
1st, 2nd and 3rd line maintenance treatment:
Tx for a flare:
Maintenance:
First line = monotherapy with methotrexate, leflunomide or sulfasalzine
Second line = combine any 2 of the above drugs
Third line = add a biologic (e.g. TNF-inhibitor)
Flare:
Short-term glucocorticoid e.g. IM methylprednisolone and short term NSAIDs e.g. ibuprofen (plus PPI cover)
Give 6 risk factors for osteoarthritis:
Obesity
Increasing age
Occupation
Trauma
Female sex
Family history
XR changes from osteoarthritis:
Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Subarticular sclerosis (increased density of bone along the joint line)
Subchondral cysts
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
A seronegative spondyloarthritis (and therefore associated with the HLA-B27 gene) that causes inflammation vertebral column and sacroiliac joints, leading to progressive fusion of the spine (“bamboo spine”).
How does ankylosing spondylitis typically present?
Commonly affects young men (late teens/early 20s)
Gradual onset over >3 months
Low back pain
Sacroiliac/buttock pain
Pain worse at rest, improves with movement
Morning stiffness lasts >30 mins
Name three seronegative spondyloarthritis conditions:
What gene are these related to?
Psoriatic arthritis
Reactive arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
HLA-B27
Which STI most commonly causes septic arthritis?
Gonorrhoea
Name two conditions that are associated with the HLA-DR4 gene:
Type 1 diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Give an important possible side effect of TNF-alpha inhibitors:
reactivation of TB - get a chest XR before starting!
What would the aspirate fluid show in gout?
No bacterial growth
Needle shaped monosodium urate crystals
Negatively bifringent of polarised light
What would the aspirate fluid show in pseudogout?
No bacterial growth
Rhomboid shaped calcium pyrophosphate crystals
Positively bifringent of polarised light
1st, 2nd and 3rd line acute tx of gout:
- NSAIDs
- Colchicine (NB: diarrhoea is a common SE)
- Steroids
What T score from a DEXA scan qualifies as osteopenia and osteoporosis?
osteopenia = -1 to -2.5
osteoporosis = less than -2.5
What is FRAX?
A tool to predict the risk of a fragility fracture over the next 10 years
What is polymyalgia rheumatica?
Inflammatory condition causing pain and stiffness in the shoulders, pelvic girdle and neck. Strongly associated with GCA/temporal arteritis.
Presentation of polymyaglia rheumatica:
Typically affects white women aged >50, symptoms should be persistent for at least 2 weeks:
1. Bilateral shoulder pain (may radiate to elbows)
2. Bilateral pelvic girdle pain
3. Pain is worse with movement
4. Pain interferes with sleep
5. Morning stiffness lasting at least 45 minutes
How do you treat polymyalgia rheumatica?
Start with prednisolone 15 mg OD, if no response after 1 week consider an alternative diagnosis.
Should see a 70% improvement in symptoms after 3-4 weeks, then can start a reducing regimen.
What is myasthenia gravis?
Autoimmune destruction/damage of nicotinic ACh receptors on the post-synaptic side of neuromuscular junctions - involves both T and B cells
Presentation of myasthenia gravis: (5)
- Increasing and relapsing muscle fatigue
- Ptosis (often bilateral)
- Myasthenic snarl (can be elicited by asking patient to count up to 50 then smile)
- Diplopia
- Normal tendon reflexes
Tx of myasthenia gravis: (4)
- Reversible ACh inhibitors e.g. pyridostigmine
- Immunosuppression with prednisolone
- Thymectomy
- +/- monoclonal antibodies e.g. rituximab
How does idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis affect FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC? Is this a restrictive or obstructive pattern?
FEV1 - variable
FVC - decreased
FEV1/FVC - increased
= restrictive
5 symptoms/signs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:
- > 50 years old
- Insidious onset of SOB
- Dry cough
- Bibasal fine end-inspiratory crackles
- Finger clubbing
CXR findings for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:
Bilateral interstitial shadowing = typically small, irregular, peripheral opacities that initially have a ground glass appearance and will progress to a honeycomb appearance
Two medications that slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:
- Pirfenidone
- Nintendabin
Summarise the lower limb dermatomes:
Anterior:
Outer thigh = L2
Inner thigh = L3
Inner calf = L4
Outer calf & foot = L5
Posterior:
Bum = S5, S4, S3
Hamstrings to mid calf = S2
Lower calf, ankle, sole of foot & pinky toe = S1
Which patients should have a target INR of 3.5?
Those with recurrent DVT or PE currently receiving anticoagulation
What is the target INR for most conditions?
2.5
If a patient on warfarin is NOT bleeding, and has an INR of 5.0-8.0, what should you do?
Withold 1 or 2 doses of warfarin
Reduce subsequent maintenance dose
If a patient on warfarin has MINOR bleeding and has an INR of 5-8, what should you do?
Stop warfarin
Give IV vitK
Restart when INR <5
If a patient on warfarin has an INR of >8, what should you do?
Stop warfarin
Give vit K (IV if bleeding, oral if not)
Restart when INR <5
If a patient on warfarin has major bleeding - what should you do?
Stop warfarin
Give IV vit K
Give dried prothrombin complex
(or FFP if unavailable)
How is acute pancreatitis diagnosed?
Primarily clinical diagnosis without imaging. Useful supporting blood tests include: ↑amylase, ↑lipase, ↑WCC, ↑LDH
What blood tests can help establish the severity of acute pancreatitis? (3)
↑WCC > 16 = severe disease
↑LDH >350 = severe disease
Low calcium = severe disease
Amylase does NOT correlate with severity of disease
Features of rhabdomyolysis:
AKI with disproportionately raised creatinine
Raised creatinine kinase - at least 5 times the upper limit of normal (>10,000)
Myoglobinuria
Hypocalcaemia
raised phosphate
Typically following a prolonged epileptic seizure or a fall with a long lie
3 important steps in managing HIV, other than antiretroviral therapy:
- close monitoring of CVS risk factors
- annual cervical smear (increased risk of HPV and cervical cancer)
- Up to date vaccinations (avoid live vaccines)
Give 5 neurological complications that can arise in HIV/AIDS:
- Toxoplasmosis infection → mutliple lesions on head CT, with ring/nodular enhancement, Thalium SPECT negative
- Primary CNS lymphoma → single lesion, solid/homongenous enhancement, Thalium SPECT positive, associated with EBV
- Progressive mutlifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) → widespread demylination due to infection of oligodendrocytes by JC virus
- Encephalitis → due to CMV or HIV itself, oedematous brain on CT
- Cryptococcus → fungal infection stains with india ink, CT shows meningeal enhancement and cerebral oedema
HIV diarrhoea - name two causative organisms:
- cryptosporidium - an intracellular protozoa, most common
- mycobacterium avium intracellulare - atypical, only in individuals with CD4 <50
What CD4 count constitutes AIDS?
CD4 <200 cells/mm³
What viral load constitutes undectable HIV?
50-100 copies/ml
How does HIV present?
Initial seroconversion flu-like illness in the first few weeks of infection
Asymptomatic period
Progression to immunodeficiency presenting with opportunistic infections and AIDS defining illnesses
Give 6 AIDS defining illnesses:
- Kaposi’s sarcoma - tumours appear as purple patches/nodules on the skin, associated with human herpes virus 8
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia - stains with silver
- Cytomegalovirus infecition
- Candidiasis
- Lymphomas
- TB
Draw a diagram to show the extra-ocular muscles, the movements they make and their innervation:
A CN III palsy will have what affect on the eyes?
Ptosis, down and out gaze, fixed dilated pupil
A CN IV palsy will have what affect on the eyes?
Impaired downwards gaze, vertical diplopia