Inflammatory arhtropathies Flashcards
What are the four categories that inflammatory arthropathies can be grouped as?
seropositive, seronegative, infectious and crystal deposition disorders
What kind of condition is many of the inflammatory arthropathies?
autoimmune
What is the mainstay of treatment?
simple analgesia, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections and disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs
Which condition affects the neck, shoulders, elbows, writs, hands, hips, knees and feet? often symmetrical
Rheumatoid arthritis
which condition affects elbows, wrists, hands knees, ankles and feet often not symmetrically?
psoriatic arthritis
which condition commonly affects spine, shoulders hips and knees?
inflammatory spondylitis
Which condition affects, neck, lumbar spine, wrists, hands, hips, knees and feet symmetrically?
osteoarthritis
What are the features of inflammatory arthritis?
joint pain with associated swelling, morning stiffness, improvement in symptoms with exercise, synovitis on examination, raised inflammatory markers and extra-articular symptoms
What is the most prevalent seropositive inflammatory arthropathy?
rheumatoid arthritis
what is rheumatoid arthritis?
an auto-immune inflammatory symmetric polyarthropathy
What joints does rheumatoid arthritis commonly affect
small joints of the hands and feet and larger joints such as knees, shoulders and elbows
Who is more commonly affected, men or women in rheumatoid arthritis?
women
When are people most often affected in rheumatoid arthritis?
between the ages of 35 and 50
What are the clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis?
symmetrical synovitis, pain and morning stiffness
What joints are affected in rheumatoid arthritis?
MCP and PIPs joints but DIP joints are not
what can atlanto-axial subluxation result in?
cervical cord compression
in what percentage of patients with RA do rheumatoid nodules occur?
25%
what lung involvement can there be in rheumatoid arthritis?
pleural effusions, interstitial fibrosis and pulmonary nodules
what ocular involvement is common in those with RA?
keratoconjunctivitis sicca, episcleritis, uveitis and nodular scleritis that may lead to scleromalacia
What investigations are needed in those with RA?
antibodies, CRP, ESR and plasma viscosity, x-rays where you may see peri-articular osteopenia and soft tissue swelling which can lead to erosions
What percentage of RA patients are seronegative?
15-20%
