Medicine- Osteoarthritis + Rheumatoid Arthritis + GOUT Flashcards
What is Osteoarthritis?
a) Thinning and Weakness of the Bones
b) Cartilage loss and peri-articular bone reaction of the joints
c) Weakening Joints
d) Chronic inflammation mainly affecting joints
b) Cartilage loss and peri-articular bone reaction of the joints
What is the main symptom of OA?
a) Morning Stiffness
b) Swelling of the Joints
c) Immobility
d) Joint Pain
d) Joint Pain
Immobility is important in OA, but is not the main symptom.
Which is a single diagnostic investigation for OA?
a) Bloods
b) X-Ray
c) CT Scan
d) MR
b) X-Ray
RA: Anti-CCP (bloods) OA: X-ray
What is the first line medical treatment for OA?
a) Oral NSAIDS
b) Paracetamolà Acetaminophen
c) Opioids
d) Steroid Injections
b) Paracetamol —> Acetaminophen
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage and the bone underneath.
OA
Which joints are affected?
• Commonly , the joints affected are those near the ends of the fingers, at the base of the thumb, neck, lower back, knee, and hips. It is a degenerative cause often having minute biological changes
OA
PAtho?
• The collagen matrix becomes more disorganized causing a decrease in proteoglycan content within cartilage
. • The breakdown of collagen fibres results in a net increase in water content leading towards ‘wear and tear’ arthritis.
OQ
symptoms?
• Pain —-> Joint pain associated exacerbated by prolonged activity and relieved following rest.
• Stiffness —-> Morning joint stiffness are often brief lasting less than minutes. The stiffness is often more severe in the morning or following a period of inactivity. Morning stiffness associated with another type of arthritis called ? osteoarthritis usually wears off within 30 minutes.
• Crackling noise &Crepitus when moving a joint.
• Locking Joints
OA
signs?
- Bunions —–> Osteoarthritis on the toes
- Bouchards Nodes ——> Hard bony enlargements on the proximal interphalangeal joints
- Heber dens Node —–> Hard bony enlargements on the distal interphalangeal joints
Epidemiology for OA
- 3-6% of the general population will be affected by osteoarthritis
- By the age of 55, 15% will have symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee
- Woman are at a higher risk of having severe arteritis compared to men
Ix for OA
ØJoint space narrowing
ØSubchondrial Sclerosis (Thickening of the joint bones) seen by a whiter (denser) section of the bone.
ØSubchondrial cyst formation: A fluid filled sac within the joint medium.
ØOsteophytes: Bony projections associated with cartilage joint degeneration.
Differential diagnosis for OA
and how to differentiate them?
Management for OA?
• Non-Pharmacological Strategies : Exercise to strengthen the surrounding ligaments; weight loss(especially if they are overweight)à to reduce the pressure on the joints and education (to avoid further damage)
• Paracetamol/NSAIDS : Can help mask the pain including medications like Paracetamol/Naproxen
• Analgesic: Opioids such as Tramadol may be administered if the chronic pain persists
• Glucosamine/ Chondroitin: May reduce the pain and improve the mobility of the joint (Although this is still under review)
• Surgery: Is a final option in some cases to replace the full joint in severe cases.
OSCE tips for OA
A 30-year-old woman is morbidly obese. Which joints are most likely to have early degenerative changes?
a) Hip and Ankles
b) Knees and Ankles
c) Hips and Knees
d) Lumbar spine and ankles
c) Hips and Knees
A 38-year-old male accountant complains of hand pain. A radiograph is notable for degenerative changes in the second and third metacarpal phalangeal joints. Which is the most helpful in diagnosis?
a) ESR b) Ferritin c) RF d) Anti-Nuclear Antibody
b) Ferritin
Laboratory tests in patients with osteoarthritis are generally normal, including the ESR.
Characteristic radiographic findings in osteoarthritis include all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Osteophytes
b) Symmetrical Joint narrowing
c) Subchondral Cysts
d) Subluxation
e) Subchondral Bone Sclerosis
b) Symmetrical Joint narrowing
Osteoarthritis can be thought of as a localized process in which mechanical forces are distributed in an unequal fashion over the joint surface, resulting in asymmetrical joint space narrowing
What Exactly is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
a) Weakening of the Joints
b) Thinning & Weakness of the Bones
c) Calcium pyrophosphate deposition in the joints
d) Chronic inflammation mainly affecting the joints
d) Chronic inflammation mainly affecting the joints
What are the classical symptoms of RA?
a) Morning Stiffness
b) Swelling of the Joints
c) Pain
d) Poor range of joint movements
ALL
Which single diagnostic marker is most specific for RA?
a) CRP
b) Anti-CCP
c) Rheumatoid Factor
d) Creatinine Kinase
b) Anti-CCP