Inflammatory Arthritis Flashcards
How does inflammatory arthritis present?
pain, stiffness, loss of function, swelling
symptoms come and go, multiple joints are affected
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
a systemic autoimmune disease with major joint manifestations
What are some risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis?
smoking, genetic (first degree relatives)
What are the main features of rheumatoid arthritis?
morning stiffness >1 hour
symmetrical arthritis
swelling in joints (small more so than large)
What are some other systems involved in rheumatoid arthritis? (other than the joints)
cardiovascular, respiratory, eyes, skin, haematology
How do we treat rheumatoid arthritis?
medications (control inflammation & damage)
encourage physical movement
avoid smoking
What is spondyloarthritis?
a group of arthritic diseases seen in the axial or peripheral skeleton
differs from other arthritic diseases in that it causes inflammation at the enthesis of tendons
What are some extra-articular features of spondyloarthritis?
eye inflammation
inflammatory bowel disease
psoriasis (skin condition)
How do we treat peripheral spondyloarthritis?
drainage of the joint
immune medications
weight loss
some skin psoriasis treatments may also help joints
Is ankylosing (axial) spondyloarthritis more common in men or women?
men
Ankylosing spondyloarthritis is associated with which genetic marker?
HLA B27
How does ankylosing spondylitis differ from non-specific back pain?
affects men more than women seen in young people buttock pain responds to NSAIDS prefers movement over rest
What is the most common inflammatory arthritis?
gout: overproduction of uric acid crystals within joints
affects men more than women
prevalence increases with age
