Frailty- bones Flashcards
Rheumatoid arthritis- what is it and risk factors
Chronic inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa.
Tends to be symmetrical and affect multiple joints. It is a symmetrical polyarthritis
Risk factors: women, middle age (40-60), family history, smoking, western diet, certain gut bacteria
Rheumatoid arthritis- genetic association
- HLA DR1- present in RA patients
- HLA DR4- present in RF positive patients
Rheumatoid arthritis- antibodies
- Rheumatoid factor- autoantibody present in 70% of RA patients, targets the FC portion of the IgG antibody. Can be positive in autoimmune inflammatory conditions, hepatitis C, TB, AIDS
- Cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP antibodies)- more specific then rheumatoid factor, can be positive whilst RF is negative
Rheumatoid arthritis- bloods
- U&E’s- NSAID’s can cause renal impairment
- LFT- treatment can be hepatotoxic
- FBC- normocytic anaemia due to chronic disease. Treatments can cause bone marrow suppression. Platelets are increased with inflammation.
X-ray: Rheumatoid arthritis
- L- loss of joint space
- E- erosions
- S- soft tissue swelling
- S- soft bones (peri-articular osteopenia, decreased density)
X-ray: Osteoarthritis
- L- loss of joint space
- O- osteophytes
- S- subchondral sclerosis
- S- subchondral cysts
When should you refer urgently with RF (within 3 days)
- Small joints of the hands or feet are affected
- More than one joint is affected
- There has been a delay of three months or longer between the onset of symptoms and the person seeking medical advice
Systems of rheumatoid arthritis
Presents with symmetrical distal polyarthropathy. Worse after rest, improves with activity
Key symptoms: pain, swelling, stiffness. Tends to affect the small joints of the hand and feet, typically the wrist, ankle, MCM and PIP joints in the hands.
Systemic symptoms: fatigue, weight loss, flu like illness, muscle aches and weakness
Palindromic rheumatism
Self limiting short episodes of inflammatory arthritis with joint pain, stiffness and swelling typically affecting only a few joints. The episodes only last 1-2 days and then completely resolve. Having positive antibodies (RF and anti-CCP) may indicate that it will progress to full rheumatoid arthritis
Joints affected in rheumatoid arthritis
- Proximal Interphalangeal Joints (PIP) joints
- Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints
- Wrist and ankle
- Metatarsophalangeal joints
- Cervical spine
- Large joints can also be affected such as the knee, hips and shoulders
- DIP is never affected by rheumatoid arthritis as well as the Ips of the toes and the thoracolumbar spine
Atlantoaxial subluxation
Occurs in the cervical spine. The axis (C2) and the odontoid peg shift within the atlas (C1). This is caused by local synovitis and damage to the ligaments and bursa around the odontoid peg of the axis and the atlas. Subluxation can cause spinal cord compression and is an emergency. This is particularly important if the patient is having a general anaesthetic and requiring intubation. MRI scans can visualise changes in these areas as part of pre-operative assessment.
Signs of rheumatoid arthritis
- Boggy synovium due to inflammation and swelling
- Z shaped deformity of the thumb
- Swan neck deformity- hyperextended PIP and flexed DIP
- Boutonnieres deformity- hyperextended DIP and flexed PIP
- Ulnar deviation of the fingers at the knuckle- MCP joint
Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis with pulmonary nodules (Caplan’s syndrome)
- Bronchiolitis obliterans (inflammation causing small airway destruction)
- Felty’s syndrome (RA, neutropenia and splenomegaly)
*Secondary Sjogren’s Syndrome (AKA sicca syndrome) - Anaemia of chronic disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Episcleritis and scleritis
- Rheumatoid nodules
- Lymphadenopathy
- Carpel tunnel syndrome
- Amyloidosis
Rheumatoid arthritis- Felty’s syndrome and Caplans syndrome
Felty’s syndrome: Splenomegaly, Rheumatoid arthritis, Neutropenia. Can cause life threatening infections.
Caplans syndrome: Pulmonary fibrosis/lung nodules and rheumatoid arthritis. Normally due to exposure with coal
Rheumatoid arthritis- investigations
- Check rheumatoid factor
- If RF negative, check anti-CCP antibodies
- Bloods- Inflammatory markers such as CRP and ESR (non-specific), antibodies
- X-ray of hands and feet
- Ultrasound scan- to confirm synovitis
- Bedside- urine dip
- Joint aspiration if presenting with monoarthropathy
Non inflammatory causes of raised ESR
Pregnancy, diabetes, ESRF, ageing, obesity and anaemia
X-ray changes in rheumatoid arthritis
- Joint destruction and deformity
- Soft tissue swelling
- Periarticular osteopenia
- Bony erosions
Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis- points are scored based on
- The joints that are involved (more and smaller joints score higher)
- Serology (rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP)
- Inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP)
- Duration of symptoms (more or less than 6 weeks)
- Scores are added up and a score greater than or equal to 6 indicates a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
DAS28 score
Based on the assessment of 28 joints and points are given for swollen joints, tender joints, ESR/CRP score
Rheumatoid arthritis- worse prognosis with:
- Younger age
- Male
- More joints and organs affected
- Prescence of RF and anti-CCP
- Erosions on x-ray
Rheumatoid arthritis- management
- Steroids- for flare ups
- NSAID’s/ COX-2 inhibitors- risk GI bleeding so are co-prescribed with a PPI
- Use minimal effective dose
Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD’s)
- First line is monotherapy with methotrexate, leflunomide or sulfasalazine. Hydroxychloroquine can be considered in mild disease and is considered the “mildest” anti rheumatic drug.
- Second line is 2 of these used in combination.
- Third line is methotrexate plus a biological therapy, usually a TNF inhibitor.
- Fourth line is methotrexate plus rituximab
- Sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine are DMARDs in pregnancy