Inflammatory arthritis Flashcards
What are spondyloarthropathies
A group of conditions associated with the HLA B27 gene
List of spondyloarthropathies
Ankylosing spondylitis
Reactive arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Enteropathic arthritis
Shared features of the spondyloarthropathies
Sacroiliac and spinal involvement
Enthesitis
Asymmetrical arthritis
Dactylitis
Ocular inflammation
Mucocutaneous lesions
What is enthesitis
Inflammation at insertion of tendons into bones
Examples of enthesitis
Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendinitis
What are the features of inflammatory back pain
Morning stiffness
Worse at rest or inactivity
Difference between inflammatory and mechanical back pain
Mechanical back pain is worse at activity whereas inflammatory back pain is better with activity
Mechanical back pain does not cause morning stiffness
What is dactylitis
Inflammation of the entire digit causing “sausage” digits
What is ankylosing spondylitis
Chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that mainly affects the spine
Mechanism of ankylosing spondylitis
1) Annulus fibrosus undergoes ossification and forms syndesmophytes, reducing spinal mobility
2) Syndesmophytes can joint together along the spine which further reduces spinal mobility and causes spinal deformity
What is annulus fibrosis
Outer fibrous layer of intervertebral discs
Who are at risk of ankylosing spondylitis
Men
Late adolescents / young adults
Family history of spondyloarthropathies
Who to suspect to have ankylosing spondylitis
< 45 years old
3 months back pain
Pain relieved by exercise, not rest
Patients with family history of spondyloarthropathies
Clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis
Back pain
Spinal deformity (if left untreated for a long time)
Enthesitis
Anterior uveitis
Aortic regurgitation
Apical lung fibrosis
Asymptomatic enteric mucosal inflammation
Amyloidosis
“A” disease is describing
Ankylosing spondylitis due to its clinical features:
Axial arthritis
Anterior uveitis
Aortic regurgitation
Apical fibrosis
Amyloidosis
Achilles tendinitis
plAntar fasciitis
Investigations for ankylosing spondylitis
Xray / MRI
Blood tests
Schober test
Chest expansion
What can be found on X-rays that suggest ankylosing spondylitis
Dagger sign
Bamboo spine
What is Dagger sign
Central single radio dense line on X-rays due to fusion of syndesmophytes
How does ankylosing spondylitis affect chest expansion
Reduces chest expansion
Describe the schober test
- Palpate the PSIS on both sides
- Draw a horizontal line and a center point
- Measure 5cm below and 10 cm above the point
- Place measuring tape between the 2 points
- Ask the patient to bend over and measure the change in distance
- If the increase in distance <5cm = positive schober
What does a positive schober test suggest
Limited lumbar motion
Management of ankylosing spondylitis
Smoking cessation
Physiotherapy
Steroid eye drops
NSAID
Anti-TNF
Secukinumab
When should you use secukinumab in AS
If the patient is unresponsive to NSAID + Anti TNF
What should patients be screened for before using biologics
Whether they have
TB
Hepatitis B
HIV
Hepatitis C
Why should patients be screened before using biologics
Because biologics may reactivate those conditions
What is psoriatic arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis
Around how much % of patients with psoriasis has psoriatic arthritis and around how much % of patients with psoriatic arthritis will have psoriasis
20% of patients with psoriasis has psoriatic arthritis
90% of patients with psoriatic arthritis will have psoriasis
5 patterns of joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis
- Symmetrical poly arthritis
- Asymmetrical oligoarthritis
- Arthritis mutilans
- Spondylitis
- Distal interphalangeal joints dominant
What is arthritis mutilans
Destructive form of arthritis causing loose skin and “telescoping” of the digits
Extra-articular manifestations of psoriatic arthritis
Dactylitis
Enthesitis - Achilles tendonitis
Nail pitting
Nail onycholysis
Nail ridging
What is nail onycholysis
Nail separating from nail bed
Since psoriatic arthritis can present with symmetrical poly arthritis which is same as RA, how should you differentiate between psoriatic arthritis and RA
Psoriatic arthritis is seronegative hence anti CCP and rheumatoid factor will not be present whereas RA is seropositive
Psoriatic arthritis can affect DIP whereas RA often spares DIP
Management of psoriatic arthritis
- convetional synthetic DMARD (e.g. methotrexate )
- Biologic DMARD (anti TNF)
- targeted DMARD (tofacitinib)
What DMARDS are offered first line for psoriatic arthritis
methotrexate
leflunomide
What DMARDS are offered second line for psoriatic arthritis
anti-TNF
What DMARD is offered third line for psoriatic arthritis
tofacitinib
Why isn’t steroid injection recommended for psoriatic arthritis
Because skin symptoms may flare up after stopping administration of steroids
What is reactive arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis that occurs after an infection
What are the common infection triggers of reactive arthritis
Gastroenteritis
Sexually transmitted diseases esp Chlamydia
What type of arthritis does gonorrhoea usually cause
Gonococcal septic arthritis
Clinical joint feature of reactive arthritis
Asymmetrical Acute monoarthritis / oligoarthritis
Which other arthropathy presents with acute asymmetrical mono arthritis / oligoarthritis
Septic arthritis
Extra-articular manifestations of reactive arthritis
Bilateral conjunctivitis
Circinate balantis
Anterior uveitis
Oral ulcers
Keratodema Blenorrhagica
Enthesitis
Dactylitis
What is circinate balantis
Ring shaped dermatitis of the head of the penis, present in reactive arthritis
What is keratodema blenorraghica
dark maculopapular rash on palms and soles seen in reactive arthritis
Keratoderma blenorrhagica is another term for
palmoplantar pustulosis - a form of psoriasis
What is an important differential diagnosis or reactive arthritis that must be ruled out ASAP
Septic arthritis
How do you rule out septic arthritis in the diagnosis of reactive arthritis
Joint aspiration of affected joint.
The joint fluid of reactive arthritis should not show infection (bacteria not present) because there is no infection in the joint in reactive arthritis
Investigations for reactive arthritis
Bloods
Cultures
Joint aspiration
Xray
Management of reactive arthritis
NSAID
Steroid injections into the joints (after ruling out septic arthritis)
Smoking cessation
What is enteropathic arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis associated with IBD
Which condition in IBD is more commonly associated with enteropathic arthritis
Crohn’s
Clinical joint features of enteropathic arthritis
Asymmetrical oligoarthritis
Sacrolilits
Spondylitis
Extra-articular manifestations of enteropathic arthritis
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Erythema nodosum
Anterior uveitis
GI symptoms (abdominal pain, loose watery stool with mucous and blood)
Mouth ulcers
Enthesitis
Dactylitis
Signs of pyoderma gangrenosum
Large painful ulcers on skin
What is erythema nodosum
Inflammatory condition affecting subcutaneous fat layer causing red, tender, swollen bumps ; present in enteropathic arthritis
Investigations for enteropathic arthritis
Upper and Lower GI endoscopy to look for IBD
Joint aspiration
Bloods
Xray
Which DMARD is most recommended to be used in enteropathic arthritis and why
Sulfasalazine because it treats symptoms of arthritis and IBD
What is gout
erosive inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals into joints and soft tissues
Risk factors of gout
Male
Over 50 years old
Family history
What causes deposition of urate crystals into soft tissues and joint
High uric acid (hyperuricaemia)
2 types of causes of hyperuricaemia
Increased urate production
Reduced urate excretion
What causes increased urate production
Diet
Alcohol
Inherited enzyme defects
Psoriasis
Haemolytic disorders