Medicine For The Elderly And Musculoskeletal/Connective Tissue Disorders Flashcards
What is meant by multi-infarct dementia?
Blocking of small blood vessels (vascular dementia)
What is the treatment for dementia?
- cholinesterase inhibitors
- sedatives
What act is very important to consider for patients with dementia in regards to their capacity to consent to treatment?
Adults with Incapacity Act 2000 Section 47
If a patient with dimentia lacks capacity to consent to treatment, what is required to be done before treatment is carried out?
Need to obtain Adults with incapacity (AWI) form from GP
What is the risk of prescribing analgesics to a patient with dimentia?
Risk of delirium (acute confusion)
Why should NSAIDS be avoided in over 80’s?
High risk of GI side effects
What are four erosive conditions that lead to tooth wear in the elderly, excluding dietary?
- alcohol abuse
- hiatus hernia
- duodenal ulceration
- certain medications (e.g. NSAIDS)
What is the consequence of extensive coverage of partial dentures over the gingiva?
Lead to damage, particularly at the gingival margins
What three types of medications are likely to induce xerostomia?
- antidepressants
- antihypertensives
- anxiolytics
How does the tongue usually appear in a patient with xerostomia?
Lobulated with deep fissures
Use of what medications are likely to cause gingival overgrowth?
- calcium channel blockers
- anti-epileptic drugs
- cyclosporine
What enhances retention of an overdenture, other than presence of surrounding natural teeth?
Precision attachments
Name three casues of angular chelitis?
- associated with chronic candidal infection
- staphylococcal infection from the nasal cavity
- iron deficiency anaemia
Define, inflammation of the joints/
Arthritis
Define, non-inflammatory joint disease.
Arthrosis
Define, joint pain.
Arthralgia
What cells remove bone?
Osteoclasts
What cells deposit bone?
Osteoblasts
What three substances are very important in bone formation?
- calcium
- phosphate
- vitamin D
Why must calcium in the blood be maintained at a very precise level?
Because it is involved in nerve and muscle function
What hormone maintains cerium calcium levels, increases calcium release from bone, and reduces renal calcium excretion?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
What happens to PTH levels if calcium levels fall?
PTH levels increase
What effect does hypoparathyroidism have in serum calcium levels?
Results in low serum calcium levels
What effect does primary hyperparathyroidism have on serum calcium levels?
Results in high serum calcium levels
What effect does primary hyperparathyroidism have on osteoclast action?
Inappropriate activation of osteoclasts
What effect does secondary hyperparathyroidism have on serum calcium levels?
Results in low calcium levels
What drugs can interfere with Vitamin D synthesis?
Some antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine and phenytoin
What are main causes of vitamin D deficiency?
- low sunlight exposure
- poor GI absorption (poor nutrition or malabsorption)
Define, a disorder of the bone where there is poorly mineralised osteoid matrix and cartilage growth plate, resulting in “bone softening”. This is often due to a calcium deficiency.
Osteomalacia
Define, a bone disorder where there is loss of mineral and matrix and a reduced bone mass.
Osteoperosis
What is osteomalacia referred to as in children, whilst the bone is still continuing to form?
Rickets
What measure of bone turnover is very high when there are issues with calcium levels?
Alkaline phosphotase
What are patient factors for osteoporosis?
- inactivity
- smoking
- excess alcohol use
- poor dietary calcium
Use of what medical drugs can be a risk factor for osteoporosis?
- steroids
- antiepileptics
What are genetic risk factors for osteoporosis?
- family history
- race-Caucasian and Asian women
- early menopause
What are endocrine risk factors for osteoporosis?
- oestrogen and testosterone deficiency
- Cushing’s syndrome
Why is Cushing’s syndrome a risk factor for osteoporosis?
Cushing’s syndrome increases corticosteroid levels in the blood
What effects does osteoporosis have on the vertebrae?
- height loss
- kyphosis and scoliosis
- nerve root compression (back pain)
What are two ways to build maximal peak bone mass in prevention of osteoporosis?
- Exercise
- High dietary calcium intake
What treatment can be used for women (specifically) to reduce osteoporosis risk?
- oestrogen hormone replacement therapy
What are the three most commonly used Bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis?
- Alendronate
- Ibandronate
- Zoledronate
Name the bisphosphonate that’s potency is high it only has to be given once a year.
Zolendronate
Define, connective tissue that lines the sin side of the joint capsule.
Synovium
What could redness around a joint suggest?
Infection, due to inflammation and high vascular content
Define, a noise made by bone ends moving- usually associated with loss of Norwalk cartilaginous covering to the bone ends.
Crepitus
What is arthography?
Where a radio-opaque dye is injected into the joint to outline the articular surfaces and the joint capsule
What is a key inflammatory marker found in the blood?
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Define, a group of joint disorders caused by deposits of crystals in joints and the soft tissues around them.
Crystal arthropathies
What is a crystal arthropathy indicative of?
Gout
Define, uric acid crystal deposition in joints.
Gout
What drugs induce hyperuricaemia?
Thiazide diuretics
What are the main symptoms of gout?
- acute inflammation of a single joint
- rapid onset
What drugs are used to treat gout?
NSAIDS
Why should aspirin be avoided if someone has gout?
Aspirin interferes with uric acid removal so could exacerbate gout
What drug, taken to treat gout may casue oral ulceration?
Allopurinol
What joints are predominantly affected by osteoarthritis?
Hips and knees
What characterises osteoarthritis?
Cartilage repair dysfunction
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
- pain (improves with rest, worse with activity)
- brief morning stiffness
- slowly progressive
What are the signs of osteoarthritis?
- joint swelling and deformity
- radiographs: loss of joint space and subchondral sclerosis and osteophite lipping
What is subchondral sclerosis?
Thickening of bone under the cartilaginous layer as the bone having more force directed straight to it and less cushioning from the cartilage
What is osteophyte lipping?
Small bony projections at edge of bone