Inflmmatory non Inflammatory Rheum Dis Flashcards
What are the key distinguishing features of inflammatory rheumatologic diseases?
Morning stiffness >30 minutes, joint swelling and warmth, elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), systemic symptoms (fatigue, fever), and a chronic progressive course.
How does the pattern of joint involvement differ between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis shows symmetrical small joint involvement, while osteoarthritis typically affects weight-bearing joints asymmetrically.
What is the mechanism behind inflammatory rheumatologic diseases?
Autoimmune or autoinflammatory processes trigger the immune system to attack joint and connective tissues.
What are acute phase reactants and their relevance to rheumatologic diseases?
Proteins whose serum levels rise or fall in response to inflammation; positive reactants include CRP and ESR, while albumin decreases.
What imaging techniques are commonly used to diagnose inflammatory arthritis?
X-ray (detects joint erosion), MRI (early inflammation and soft tissue changes), and ultrasound (synovitis detection).
What are the primary treatment goals for inflammatory arthritis?
Reduce inflammation, prevent joint damage, and improve function through DMARDs, biologics, and symptom management.
Describe the typical clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
SLE may present with fatigue, fever, weight loss, malar rash, photosensitivity, serositis, and multi-organ involvement including renal and neurological manifestations.
What laboratory tests support a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?
Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-dsDNA, low complement levels (C3, C4), and hematologic abnormalities.
How does ankylosing spondylitis present clinically?
It presents with chronic inflammatory back pain, sacroiliitis, morning stiffness, and extra-articular manifestations like uveitis and enthesitis.
What are the clinical criteria for diagnosing inflammatory back pain?
Onset before age 40-45, chronic pain lasting >3 months, morning stiffness >30 minutes, pain worse in the morning and second half of the night, and improvement with NSAIDs.
What distinguishes psoriatic arthritis from other inflammatory arthropathies?
It involves enthesitis, dactylitis, nail changes, and may occur with or without visible skin psoriasis.
What are the systemic complications of vasculitis?
Multiorgan ischemia, peripheral neuropathy, glomerulonephritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pulmonary involvement (e.g., hemoptysis).
What clinical signs raise suspicion for vasculitis?
Unexplained fever, muscle weakness, peripheral nerve abnormalities, active urine sediment, and new-onset hypertension.
Describe the clinical presentation of Behçet’s disease.
It includes recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, skin lesions, and potential involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, joints, and central nervous system.
What distinguishes non-inflammatory mechanical back pain from inflammatory back pain?
Mechanical back pain worsens with activity and improves with rest, while inflammatory back pain is worse at night and improves with movement.
What role does joint imaging play in distinguishing osteoarthritis from inflammatory arthritis?
Osteoarthritis shows joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and subchondral sclerosis, while inflammatory arthritis reveals joint erosions and synovitis.
How is fibromyalgia differentiated from other rheumatologic conditions?
It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, cognitive issues, and normal inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR).
What are the hallmark symptoms of hypermobility spectrum disorders?
Joint hypermobility, chronic pain, musculoskeletal instability, and increased risk of subluxation or dislocation.
Why do inflammatory rheumatologic diseases respond to immunosuppressive therapy?
Because they are mediated by immune system dysregulation, which is reduced by immunosuppressive agents.
What are the risk factors for developing osteoarthritis?
Aging, joint injury, obesity, genetics, and repetitive joint stress.
