Iggy Chapter 20 RA, Lupus, systemic sclerosis

Question 1

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS description

Answer 1

Connective tissue disease
Destructive to joints and cartilage
Antibodies attack synovium causing it to thicken
Inflammatory

Question 2

RA pannus formation

Answer 2

When synovium thickens
Vascular granulation tissue of inflammatory cells
Errodes articular cartilage and bone

Question 3

Late RA sx

Answer 3

Fibrous adhesions
Bony ankyloses
Calcifications
Bone density loss
Secondary osteoporosis

Question 4

RA onset

Answer 4

more common in winter

Question 5

RA characteristics

Answer 5

chronic and progressive

natural remissions and exerbations

Question 6

RA effects which ethnicity most

Answer 6

euro-americans

Question 7

Causes of RA

Answer 7

environmental and genetic
Female reproductive hormones play a role
Stress

Question 8

Who gets RA?

Answer 8

young to middle aged women

Question 9

Early RA sx

Answer 9

Fatigue
Low-grade fever
Generalized weakness
Anorexia (2-3 lb loss in early stage)
Paresthesias
“migratory arthritis”

Question 10

RA Baker’s cysts

Answer 10

enlarged popliteal bursae behind knee

Cause tissue compression and pain

Question 11

RA Gel phenomenon

Answer 11

last 45 min – several hours .

Joints are soft and puffy (synovitis and effusions – esp. in the knees)

Question 12

RA Vasculitis

Answer 12

Late sx

Organ supplied by arterial vessels become ischemic, malfunction, and fail

Question 13

RA peripheral nerropathy

Answer 13

from decreased circulation

leads to foot drop and paresthesias

Question 14

RA respiratory complications

Answer 14

Pleurisy
Pneumonitis
Diffuse interstistial fibrosis
Pulmonary HTN