General Flashcards
What are the features of adhesive capsulitis?
external rotation is affected more than internal rotation or abduction
both active and passive movement is affected
patients typically have a painful freezing phase, an adhesive phase and a recovery phase
bilateral in up to 20% of patients
the episode typically lasts between 6 months and 2 years
What is the association with adhesive capsulitis?
Diabetes mellitus
What are the features of ANCA positive vasculitis?
renal impairment
- caused by immune complex glomerulonephritis → raised creatinine, haematuria and proteinuria
respiratory symptoms
- dyspnoea
- haemoptysiis
systemic symptoms
- fatigue
- weight loss
- fever
vasculitic rash: present only in a minority of patients
ear, nose and throat symptoms
sinusitis
What investigations should be completed in ANCA positive vasculitis?
urinalysis for haematuria and proteinuria
bloods:
urea and creatinine for renal impairment
full blood count: normocytic anaemia and thrombocytosis may be seen
CRP: raised
ANCA testing (see below)
chest x-ray: nodular, fibrotic or infiltrative lesions may be seen
Vasculitis caused by cANCA?
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Vasculitis caused by pANCA?
eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis + others (see below)
What ANCA can be used to monitor disease levels?
cANCA
Target of cANCA autoantibody?
Serine proteinase 3 (PR3)
Target of pANCA autoantibody?
myeloperoxidase (MPO)
Other conditions associated with pANCA?
Ulcerative colitis (70%)
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (70%)
Anti-GBM disease (25%)
Crohn’s disease (20%)
Features of ankylosing spondylitis?
Young man
Insidious onset
Improves with exercise
Pain at night
Worse when getting up
Clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis?
reduced lateral flexion
reduced forward flexion - Schober’s test - a line is drawn 10 cm above and 5 cm below the back dimples (dimples of Venus). The distance between the two lines should increase by more than 5 cm when the patient bends as far forward as possible
reduced chest expansion
What are the other features of ankylosing spondylitis?
The A’s
Apical fibrosis
Anterior uveitis
Aortic regurgitation
Achilles tendonitis
AV node block
Amyloidosis
and cauda equina syndrome
peripheral arthritis (25%, more common if female)
Features of antiphosphlipid syndrome
venous/arterial thrombosis
recurrent fetal loss
livedo reticularis
thrombocytopenia
prolonged APTT
other features: pre-eclampsia, pulmonary hypertension
Why does antiphospholipid syndrome have a paradoxical rise in APTT?
ex-vivo reaction of the lupus anticoagulant autoantibodies with phospholipids involved in the coagulation cascade
Associations of antiphospholipid syndrome?
SLE
Autoimmune disorders
Lymphoproliferative disorders
Management of antiphospholipid syndrome?
Primary propylaxis
1. Low dose aspirin
Secondary prophylaxis
1. initial venous thromboembolic events: lifelong warfarin with a target INR of 2-3
2. recurrent venous thromboembolic events: lifelong warfarin; if occurred whilst taking warfarin then consider adding low-dose aspirin, increase target INR to 3-4
3. arterial thrombosis should be treated with lifelong warfarin with target INR 2-3
Causes of avscular necrosis of the hip?
long-term steroid use
chemotherapy
alcohol excess
trauma
Features of avascular necrosis of the hip?
Death of bone tissue secondary to loss of the blood supply
initially asymptomatic
pain in the affected joint
Investigation findings for avascular necrosis of hip?
Osteopenia and microfractures may be seen early on. Collapse of the articular surface may result in the crescent sign
Best imaging modality for avscular necrosis?
MRI is the investigation of choice. It is more sensitive than radionuclide bone scanning
What is the mechanism of azathioprine?
metabolised to the active compound mercaptopurine, a purine analogue that inhibits purine synthesis.
What test should be done before starting azathiprine?
thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) test
What are the adverse effects of azathioprine?
bone marrow depression
- consider a full blood count if infection/bleeding occurs
nausea/vomiting
pancreatitis
increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer
Can azathioprine be used in pregnancy ?
Yes
What is the classic triad of bechets ?
Oral ulcers
Gential ulcers
Anterior uveitis
What is the HLA type of bechets?
HLA B 51
more specifically HLA B51, a split antigen of HLA B5
Features of bechets?
classically: 1) oral ulcers 2) genital ulcers 3) anterior uveitis
thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis
arthritis
neurological involvement (e.g. aseptic meningitis)
GI: abdo pain, diarrhoea, colitis
erythema nodosum
What are the adverse effects of bisphsophonates?
oesophageal reactions: oesophagitis, oesophageal ulcers (especially alendronate)
osteonecrosis of the jaw
increased risk of atypical stress fractures of the proximal femoral shaft in patients taking alendronate
acute phase response: fever, myalgia and arthralgia may occur following administration
hypocalcaemia: due to reduced calcium efflux from bone. Usually clinically unimportant
What is the mechanism of bisphonsates
Inhibits osteoclasts
Osteoporosis: Calcium Phosphate ALP PTH ?
All normal
Osteomalacia: Calcium Phosphate ALP PTH ?
Decreased calcium
Decreased phosphate
Increased ALP
Increased PTH
Primary Hyperthyroidism : Calcium Phosphate ALP PTH ?
Increased calcium
Decreased phosphate
Increased ALP
Increased PTH
Chronic kidney disease ( Secondary hyperparathyroidism) : Calcium Phosphate ALP PTH ?
Decreased calcium
Increased phosphate
Increased ALP
Increased PTH
Paget’s disease: calcium, phosphate, ALP ,PTH?
Normal Calcium
Normal phosphate
Increased ALP
Normal PTH
What is osteopetrosis?
Condition were bone harden
All bone markers are normal
What are features of an osteoma?
Benign tumour
Benign overgrowth
Typically seen on skull
Associated with Gardner’s syndrome (a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis, FAP)
What are the features of an osteochrondroma?
Benign tumour
cartilage-capped bony projection on the external surface of a bone
What are the features of a giant cell tumour?
Benign tumour
occurs most frequently in the epiphyses of long bones
X-ray shows a ‘double bubble’ or ‘soap bubble’ appearance
What is the most common primary malignant bone cancer?
Osteosarcoma
Features of osteosarcoma?
Most common primary malignant tumour
Seen frequently at metaphysis
x-ray shows Codman triangle (from periosteal elevation) and ‘sunburst’ pattern
mutation of the Rb gene significantly increases risk of osteosarcoma (hence association with retinoblastoma)
other predisposing factors include Paget’s disease of the bone and radiotherapy
Features of ewing’s sarcoma?
Malignant tumour
frequently in the pelvis and long bones. Tends to cause severe pain
associated with t(11;22) translocation which results in an EWS-FLI1 gene product
x-ray shows ‘onion skin’ appearance
Features of chondrosarcoma?
malignant tumour of cartilage
most commonly affects the axial skeleton
more common in middle-age
What are the features of carpal tunnel syndrome?
weakness of thumb abduction (abductor pollicis brevis)
wasting of thenar eminence (NOT hypothenar)
Tinel’s sign: tapping causes paraesthesia
Phalen’s sign: flexion of wrist causes symptoms
What are the two eponymous named tests for carpal tunnel?
Tinel’s sign: tapping causes paraesthesia
Phalen’s sign: flexion of wrist causes symptoms
Causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?
idiopathic
pregnancy
oedema e.g. heart failure
lunate fracture
rheumatoid arthritis
Management of carpal tunnel?
Flexor retinaculum division
Features of cubital tunnel syndrome?
Tingling and numbness of the 4th and 5th finger which starts off intermittent and then becomes constant.
Over time patients may also develop weakness and muscle wasting
Pain worse on leaning on the affected elbow
What is de quervains tenosynovitis?
condition in which the sheath containing the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons is inflamed
What are the features of de quervain’s tenosynovitis?
pain on the radial side of the wrist
tenderness over the radial styloid process
abduction of the thumb against resistance is painful
What test can be done to confirm de quervain’s tenosynovitis?
Finkelstein’s test: the examiner pulls the thumb of the patient in ulnar deviation and longitudinal traction. In a patient with tenosynovitis this action causes pain over the radial styloid process and along the length of extensor pollisis brevis and abductor pollicis longus
What is denosumab ? - what is it used in? - what is its mechanism?
human monoclonal antibody that prevents the development of osteoclasts by inhibiting RANKL
What are the features of dermatomyositis?
symmetrical, proximal muscle weakness and characteristic skin lesions
photosensitive
macular rash over back and shoulder
heliotrope rash in the periorbital region
Gottron’s papules - roughened red papules over extensor surfaces of fingers
‘mechanic’s hands’: extremely dry and scaly hands with linear ‘cracks’ on the palmar and lateral aspects of the fingers
nail fold capillary dilatation
Autoantibodies associated in dermatomyositis?
antibodies against histidine-tRNA ligase (also called Jo-1)
antibodies to signal recognition particle (SRP)
anti-Mi-2 antibodies
Other features of dermatomyositis?
proximal muscle weakness +/- tenderness
Raynaud’s
respiratory muscle weakness
interstitial lung disease: e.g. Fibrosing alveolitis or organising pneumonia
dysphagia, dysphonia
Most specific antibody for dermatomyositis?
anti-Mi-2 antibodies are highly specific for dermatomyositis, but are only seen in around 25% of patients
Other investigation findings on dermatomyositis?
elevated creatine kinase
EMG
muscle biopsy
ANA positive in 60%
anti-Mi-2 antibodies are highly specific for dermatomyositis, but are only seen in around 25% of patients
anti-Jo-1 antibodies are not commonly seen in dermatomyositis - they are more common in polymyositis where they are seen in a pattern of disease associated with lung involvement, Raynaud’s and fever
Features of discoid lupus?
erythematous, raised rash, sometimes scaly
may be photosensitive
more common on face, neck, ears and scalp
lesions heal with atrophy, scarring (may cause scarring alopecia), and pigmentation
very rarely progresses to systemic lupus erythematosus
characterised by follicular keratin plugs and is thought to be autoimmune in aetiology
Management of discoid lupus?
topical steroid cream
oral antimalarials may be used second-line e.g. hydroxychloroquine
avoid sun exposure
Most common cause of drug induced lupus?
Most common causes
procainamide
hydralazine
Less common causes
isoniazid
minocycline
phenytoin
What is the antibody profile in drug induced lupus?
ANA positive in 100%, dsDNA negative
anti-histone antibodies are found in 80-90%
anti-Ro, anti-Smith positive in around 5%
Features of ehler’s danlos syndrome?
elastic, fragile skin
joint hypermobility: recurrent joint dislocation
easy bruising
aortic regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse and aortic dissection
subarachnoid haemorrhage
angioid retinal streaks
What are the features of lateral epicondylitis?
pain and tenderness localised to the lateral epicondyle
pain worse on resisted wrist extension with the elbow extended or supination of the forearm with the elbow extended
episodes typically last between 6 months and 2 years. Patients tend to have acute pain for 6-12 weeks
What are the features of medial epicondylitis?
pain and tenderness localised to the medial epicondyle
pain is aggravated by wrist flexion and pronation
symptoms may be accompanied by numbness / tingling in the 4th and 5th finger due to ulnar nerve involvement
What are the features of radial tunnel syndrome?
compression of the posterior interosseous branch of the radial nerve
symptoms are similar to lateral epicondylitis making it difficult to diagnose
however, the pain tends to be around 4-5 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle
symptoms may be worsened by extending the elbow and pronating the forearm
Features of cubital tunnel syndrome?
initially intermittent tingling in the 4th and 5th finger
may be worse when the elbow is resting on a firm surface or flexed for extended periods
later numbness in the 4th and 5th finger with associated weakness
Features of olecranon bursitis?
Swelling over the posterior aspect of the elbow
What is associated with an anti-Ro antibody?
Sjogren’s syndrome
SLE
congenital heart block
What is associated with an anti-la antibody?
Sjorgan’s syndrome
What is associated with anti-Jo antibody?
Polymyositis
What is associated with anti-Scl70 antibody?
Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis
What is associated with anti-centromere antibody?
Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
What is familial mediterian fever?
Autosomal recessive
Features - attacks typically last 1-3 days
pyrexia
abdominal pain (due to peritonitis)
pleurisy
pericarditis
arthritis
erysipeloid rash on lower limbs
Management of familial mediterian fever?
Colchicine
Drug causes of gout?
diuretics: thiazides, furosemide
ciclosporin
alcohol
cytotoxic agents
pyrazinamide
aspirin
Joints typically affected in gout?
1st metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint
ankle
wrist
knee
What are the radiological features of gout?
joint effusion is an early sign
well-defined ‘punched-out’ erosions with sclerotic margins in a juxta-articular distribution, often with overhanging edges
relative preservation of joint space until late disease
eccentric erosions
no periarticular osteopenia (in contrast to rheumatoid arthritis)
soft tissue tophi may be seen
What is gout ?
deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate in the synovium.
Acute management of gout?
- NSAIDs or colchicine are first-line
2 Gastroprotection
Consider steroids if colchicine is contraindicated
Urate lowering therapy
When should rate lowering therapy be used in gout?
Should be started after first bout of gout
ULT is particularly recommended if:
>= 2 attacks in 12 months
tophi
renal disease
uric acid renal stones
prophylaxis if on cytotoxics or diuretics
Does not need to be started after 2 weeks post flare. Can start whenever
Dose of allopurinol in gout?
100 mg
What can be tried in refractory cases of hyperuricaemia and gout?
uricase (urate oxidase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of urate to the degradation product allantoin. It is present in certain mammals but not humans
Lifestyle modifications in gout?
reduce alcohol intake and avoid during an acute attack
lose weight if obese
avoid food high in purines e.g. Liver, kidneys, seafood, oily fish (mackerel, sardines) and yeast products
What drug changes should be made to a patient’s drug list?
stop thiazides
Lorsartan has a uricosuric action and may be particularly suitable for the many patients who have coexistent hypertension
Vitamin C may also reduced uric acid
Risk factors the reduced uric acid secretion?
drugs*: diuretics
chronic kidney disease
lead toxicity
Risk factors the increased uric acid secretion?
myeloproliferative/lymphoproliferative disorder
cytotoxic drugs
severe psoriasis
Features of lesch nyman syndrome?
hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRTase) deficiency
x-linked recessive therefore only seen in boys
features: gout, renal failure, neurological deficits, learning difficulties, self-mutilation
Features of greater trochanteric pain syndrome?
pain over the lateral side of hip/thigh
tenderness on palpation of the greater trochanter
Mechanism of greater trochanteric pain syndrome?
repeated movement of the fibroelastic iliotibial band
Features of osteoarthritis?
Pain exacerbated by exercise and relieved by rest
Reduction in internal rotation is often the first sign
Features of inflammatory arthritis?
Pain in the morning
Systemic features
Raised inflammatory markers
Features of meralgia parasthetica?
Caused by compression of lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
Typically burning sensation over antero-lateral aspect of thigh
Features of avascular necrosis ?
Symptoms may be of gradual or sudden onset
May follow high dose steroid therapy or previous hip fracture of dislocation
Features of pubic symphysis dysfunction?
Common in pregnancy
Ligament laxity increases in response to hormonal changes of pregnancy
Pain over the pubic symphysis with radiation to the groins and the medial aspects of the thighs. A waddling gait may be seen
Features of transient idiopathic osteoporosis?
uncommon condition sometimes seen in the third trimester of pregnancy
Groin pain associated with a limited range of movement in the hip
Patients may be unable to weight bear
ESR may be elevated
Features of developmental dysplasia of the hip?
Often picked up on newborn examination
Barlow’s test, Ortolani’s test are positive
Unequal skin folds/leg length
Features of transient synovitis of the hip ?
Typical age group = 2-10 years
Acute hip pain associated with viral infection
Commonest cause of hip pain in children
What is Perthes disease?
degenerative condition affecting the hip joints of children, typically between the ages of 4-8 years. It is due to avascular necrosis of the femoral head
10% are bilateral
What are the features of perthes disease?
hip pain: develops progressively over a few weeks
limp
stiffness and reduced range of hip movement
x-ray: early changes include widening of joint space, later changes include decreased femoral head size/flattening
Features of slipped upper femoral epiphysis?
Typical age group = 10-15 years
More common in obese children and boys
Displacement of the femoral head epiphysis postero-inferiorly
Bilateral slip in 20% of cases
May present acutely following trauma or more commonly with chronic, persistent symptoms
What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
Preferred to the older term juvenile chronic arthritis, describes arthritis occurring in someone who is less than 16 years old that lasts for more than three months. Pauciarticular JIA refers to cases where 4 or less joints are affected. It accounts for around 60% of cases of JIA
Features of juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
joint pain and swelling: usually medium sized joints e.g. knees, ankles, elbows
limp
ANA may be positive in JIA - associated with anterior uveitis
Features of septic arthritis?
Acute hip pain associated with systemic upset e.g. pyrexia. Inability/severe limitation of affected joint
Adverse effect of hydroxychloroquine?
bull’s eye retinopathy - may result in severe and permanent visual loss
Most common bacteria to cause a psoas abscess?
Haematogenous spread of bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus: most common
Secondary causes of psoas abscess?
Crohn’s (commonest cause in this category)
Diverticulitis, colorectal cancer
UTI, GU cancers
Vertebral osteomyelitis
Femoral catheter, lithotripsy
Endocarditis
intravenous drug use
What is the specific test to investigate for a psoas abscess?
Lie the patient on the normal side and hyperextend the affected hip. This should elicit pain as the psoas muscle is stretched.
What is the specific test to investigate for a psoas abscess?
Lie the patient on the normal side and hyperextend the affected hip. This should elicit pain as the psoas muscle is stretched.
What are the features of chondromalacia patellae?
Softening of the cartilage of the patella
Common in teenage girls
Characteristically anterior knee pain on walking up and down stairs and rising from prolonged sitting
Usually responds to physiotherapy
Features of Osgood scatter disease?
Seen in sporty teenagers
Pain, tenderness and swelling over the tibial tubercle
features of Osteochondritis dissecans
joint condition in which bone underneath the cartilage of a joint dies due to lack of blood flow. This bone and cartilage can then break loose, causing pain and possibly hindering joint motion
Pain after exercise
Intermittent swelling and locking