MSK + Ortho Flashcards
How does antiphospholipid syndrome present?
- Venous and arterial thromboses
- Recurrent fetal loss
- Thrombocytopenia
- Mottled discolouration of skin (Livedo reticularis)
- PARADOXICAL RISE in APTT
Anti phospholipid syndrome
Associations
- SLE
- Lymphoproliferative disorders
Anti phospholipid syndrome
Management
- Low-dose aspirin (primary thromboprophylaxis)
- Lifelong warfarin with target INR 2-3
- If VTE occurred on warfarin, add low-dose aspirin and increase INR target to 3-4
Anti phospholipid syndrome
Complications in pregnancy
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- Pre-eclampsia
- Placental abruption
- Pre-term delivery
- VTE
Anti phospholipid syndrome
Management in pregnancy
- Low-dose aspirin once pregnancy test confirmed on urinary testing
- LMWH once foetal heart seen on US
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Antibodies
- Lupus anticoagulant
- Anticardiolipin antibodies
- Anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I antibodies
What is livedo reticularis?
A purple lace-like rash that gives a mottled appearance to the skin
What is Libmann-Sacks endocarditis?
- Non-bacterial endocarditis where there are growths on the valves of the heart
- Mitral valve most commonly affected
- Associated with SLE and antiphospholipid syndrome
Osteoarthritis
Risk factors
- Local trauma or previous injury
- Hypermobility
- Congenital hip dysplasia
- Obesity
- Increased age
- Gender - females (after menopause)
- Genetics - polyarticular disease
- Occupation - manual labour (hands), farming (hips), football (knees)
Osteoarthritis
Presentation
- Early morning stiffness < 30 mins
- Pain after exercise/at end of day
- Functional impairment, e.g. walking, ADLs
- Alteration in gait
- HARD joint swelling
- Crepitus
- Synovitis
- Effusion
- Locking of knee = loose body
- NO extra-articular manifestations
- HEBERDENS NODES - DIP joints
- BOUCHARDS NODES - PIP joints
- SQUARING at base of thumb
- Weak/reduced grip
Osteoarthritis
XR findings
LOSS
L: Loss of joint space
O: Osteophyte formation
S: Subchondral sclerosis
S: Subchondral cysts
Osteoarthritis
Diagnosis
Can be made w/o investigations IF:
- Over 45 yrs
- Typical activity-related pain
- No morning stiffness (or < 30 mins)
XRs can be helpful for checking severity or for confirming diagnosis, but not always necessary
OA
Lifestyle management
- Patient education
- Lifestyle changes - weight loss
- PT and OT
- Local muscle strengthening exercises and general aerobic fitness
- Orthotics
OA
Pharmacological management
- First line = Paracetamol and TOPICAL NSAIDs
2. Capsaicin cream
3. Oral NSAIDs/COX-2 inhibitors (PPI if NSAIDs/COX-2, avoid these if on aspirin)
4. Opioids - use cautiously
5. Intra-articular steroid injections - temporary symptom reduction
OA
Surgical management
Joint replacement
Joint replacement
Criteria
Primarily based on function and impacts on QoL
Joint replacement
Advice for post-replacement
- Avoid flexing hip > 90 degrees
- Avoid low chairs
- Do not cross legs
- Sleep on back for first 6 weeks
- May need stick/crutches for 6 weeks after hip/knee
- Will receive PT and home exercises
- Weight bear asap
Joint replacement
General complications
- Wound and joint infection
- VTE
- Dislocation
Red flag features of OA joint pain that suggest alternative diagnosis
- Rest pain
- Night pain
- Morning stiffness > 2 hours
Joint replacement - HIP
Complications
- Leg length discrepency
- Posterior dislocation
- Aseptic loosening (most common reason for revision)
RA
Patho
Autoimmune disease causes chronic inflammation of synovial lining on the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa
- Inflammation of the tendons increases risk of tendon rupture
RA
Genetic associations
HLA DR4
HLA DR1
RA
Antibodies
- Rheumatoid factor (70%)
- Cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) - more sensitive and specific, and often predate RA presentation
Rheumatoid factor
MoA
How to detect
- Targets Fc portion of IgG antibodies
- Causes activation of immune system against the patients own IgG –> systemic inflammation
- Detect by Rose-Waaler test: sheep cell agglutination OR latex agglutination test
RA
General presentation
- SYMMETRICAL
- Distal polyarthropathy
- Pain, swelling
- Morning stiffness > 30 mins
- Eases with use of joints
- Typically: WRIST, ANKLE, MCP, PIP
- BARELY EVER DIP
- Can be very rapid onset or over months to years
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Flu-like illness
- Muscles aches and weakness
What is palindromic rheumatism
- Short episodes of inflammatory arthritis with joint pain, stiffness and swelling typically affecting only a few joints
- The episodes only last 1-2 days and then completely resolve
- Having positive antibodies (RF and anti-CCP) may indicate that it will progress to full rheumatoid arthritis.
RA
Signs in hands
- Z thumbs
- Ulnar deviation
- Swan neck deformity (flexed DIP, hyper-extended PIP)
- Boutonniere deformity (flexed PIP, extended DIP)
- Rheumatoid nodules - ELBOWS
RA
Extra-articular manifestations
Lungs:
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Nodules
- Caplan’s syndrome - RA and pneumoconiosis - intrapulmonary nodules!
Eyes:
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Episcleritis
- Scleritis
- Sicca
Cardiac:
- CVS disease
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (bilateral)
- Lymphadenopathy
- Amyloidosis
FELTY’S SYNDROME:
- RA
- Splenomegaly
- Neutropenia
RA
Diagnosis
- Clinical if features of RA
- Check rheumatoid factor
- If RF negative - check anti-CCP
- CRP and ESR
- XR of hands and feet
- US to look for synovitis
RA
XR changes
LESS
- L: Loss of joint space
- E: Erosion (boney)
- S: Soft-tissue swelling
- S: Soft bones (osteopenia)
RA
Referral
- Refer any adult with persistent synovitis, even if negative RF, anti-CCP and inflammatory markers
- Urgent if small joints of hands, feet or multiple joints or symptoms > 3 months
RA
American College of Rheum criteria
JOINTS:
0: 1 large joint
1: 2-10 large joints
2: 1-3 small joints
3: 4-10 small joints
4: 10 joints (incl 1 small)
SEROLOGY
0: Negative RF and ACPA
2: Low-positive RF or ACPA
3: High-positive RF or ACPA
INFLAMM MARKERS
0: Normal CRP + ERS
1: Abnormal CRP or ESR
DURATION
0: < 6 weeks
1: > 6 weeks
Other conditions with raised RF
- Felty’s syndrome (around 100%)
- Sjogren’s syndrome (around 50%)
- Infective endocarditis (around 50%)
- SLE (= 20-30%)
- Systemic sclerosis (= 30%)
- General population (= 5%)
- Rarely: TB, HBV, EBV, leprosy
RA
Poor prognostic fatcors
- RF positive
- anti-CCP positive
- Poor functional status at presentation
- XR: early erosions
- Extra-articular features, e.g. nodules
- HLA DR4
- Insidious onset
RA
Long-term management
1st line = DMARD ASAP !!!
- Short-course bridging prednisolone
2nd line = x2 DMARDS
3rd line = biological therapy (TNF-inhibitor)
4th line = rituximab
RA
Monitoring
Disease activity –> DAS28
- Based on swollen joints, tender joints, ESR/CRP result
RA
Flare management
- Managed with corticosteroids - oral or IM
RA
Most common DMARD
Methotrexate:
- Monitor FBC and LFTs (risk of myelosuppression and liver cirrhosis)
RA
Other DMARDs
- Sulfasalazine
- Leflunomide
- Hydroxychloroquine (mildest)
RA
2nd line pharmacological management
- TNF-inhibitor
- If inadequate response to at least 2 DMARDs (including methotrexate)
RA
TNF-Inhibitor examples
ETANERCEPT:
- Recombinant human protein
- Acts as decoy receptor for TNF-alpha
- SC administration
- Can cause demyelination
- Risks: reactivation of TB
INFLIXIMAB:
- Monoclonal antibody
- TNF-alpha
- IV administration
- Risks: reactivation of TB
RA management in pregnancy
- Pregnant women tend to have an improvement in symptoms during pregnancy, probably due to the higher natural production of steroid hormones
- Sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine are considered as DMARDs in pregnancy
SEs of methotrexate
Methotrexate: Bone marrow suppression and leukopenia and highly teratogenic
SEs of leflunomide
Leflunomide: Hypertension and peripheral neuropathy
SEs of Sulfasalazine
Sulfasalazine: Male infertility (reduces sperm count)
SEs of Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine: Nightmares and reduced visual acuitys
SEs of Anti-TNF meds
Anti-TNF medications: Reactivation of TB or hepatitis B
SEs of rituximab
Rituximab: Night sweats and thrombocytopenia
Septic arthritis
Common causes
- Most common = S.aureus
- In young adults who are sexually active –> NEISSERIA GONORRHOEA
- Hematogenous spread - may be from distant bacterial infection, e.g. abscess
- Other causes: Group A Strep (strep pyogenes), H. influenza, E.coli
Septic arthritis
Features
- Most common location = knee
- Usually only one joint
- Fever
- Acute, hot, swollen joints with restricted movement
Septic arthritis
Ix
- SYNOVIAL FLUID sampling = obligatory, prior to Abx therapy
- Send for gram staining, crystal microscopy, culture and antibiotic sensitivities
- Blood cultures
- Joint imaging
Septic arthritis
Management
‘hot joint policy’
IV Abx with gram +ve cocci cover
- Flucloxacillin
- Clindamycin if PA
- for 6-12 weeks
Needle aspiration to decompress joint (US)
May need arthroscopic lavage
Psoriatic arthritis
Patterns
- Symmetrical polyarthritis, similar to RA (but DIPs!!), more common in women
- Asymmetrical oligoarthritits (only a few joints, hands/feet)
- Spondylitic pattern (more common in men): Sacroiliitis, back stiffness, atlanto-axial joint
- Arthritis mutilans
Psoriatic arthritis
Other signs
- Psoriatic skin lesions
- NAIL CHANGES - pitting, onycholysis
- Periarticular disease (tenosynovitis, dactylitis, enthesitis - inflammation of entheses - tendons meet bone)
- Eye disease (conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis)
- Aortitis
- Amyloidosis
Psoriatic arthritis
Ix
- Psoriasis epidemiological screening tool (PEST): refer if high score
XR:
- Periostitis
- Ankylosis (bones fuse)
- Osteolysis (destruction of bone)
- Coexistence of erosive changes and new bone formation
- Pencil-in-cup appearance due to central erosions
Psoriatic arthritis
When does it occur
- Within 10 years of psoriatic skin changes (unlikely to occur if not developed arthritis within this time)
- Can present before skin changes
- Typically middle-aged
Arthritis mutilans
- Severe form of psoriasis
- Occurs in phalynxs
- Destruction of bones at either end of phalynx’s –> occurs fingers to shorter, skin folds in on self
- TELESCOPIC FINGER
Psoriatic arthritis
Management
Similar to RA
- NSAIDs
- DMARDs
- Anti-TNF meds
Enteropathic arthritis
Association?
- IBD
- GI bypass
- Coeliac
- Whipple’s disease
Enteropathic arthritis
Increases risk of what?
- Pyodermic gangrenosum
- Erythema nodosum
Spondyloarthropathies
Common features
- HLA B27
- Rheumatoid factor NEGATIVE (seronegative)
- Peripheral arthritis, usually asymmetrical
- May have Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Features
- Young male
- Lower back pain
- Stiffness
- Stiffness: worse in morning and improves with exercise, worsens with rest
- May experience pain at night
Ankylosing spondylitis
Clinical examination
- Reduced lateral flexion
- Reduced forward flexion (Schober’s test - draw line 10cm above and 5cm below back dimples, distance between the lines should increased by > 5cm)
- Reduced chest expansion
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ix
- Inflammatory markers (typically raised)
- HLA B27
- Plain XR of sacroiliac joint –> sacroiliitis
- SQUARING of lumbar vertebrae
- Bamboo spin (late and uncommon)
- Syndesmophytes
- CXR: apical fibrosis!
- MRI if XR negative and still highly suspect AS
Ankylosing spondylitis
Management
- NSAIDs
- Steroids for flares
- Anti-TNF
- Monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-17
Reactive arthritis
Patho
- Synovitis occurs in joints due to recent infective trigger
- Immune system is responding to previous infection –> causes antibodies that affect the joints
- Used to be known as Reiter syndrome
Reactive arthritis
Presentation
- Acute monoarthritic
- Usually in lower limb, most often knee
- NO JOINT INFECTION (in comparison to septic arthritis)
- Common triggers: STIs or gastroenteritis
Reactive arthritis
Causes
- STIS: Chlamydia = most common (gonorrhoea = septic)
Reactive arthritis
Associations
- Bilateral conjunctivitis
- Anterior uveitis
- Circinate balanitis
“Can’t see, pee or climb a tree”
Reactive arthritis
Management
‘hot joint policy’ = presume septic arthritis until proven otherwise
Reactive arthritis
Management
‘hot joint policy’ = presume septic arthritis until proven otherwise
- Abx
- Aspirate and send for gram stain, C&S, crystal examination
After excluding septic arthritis:
- NSAIDs
- Steroid injection
- Systemic steroids if multiple joints
- May need DMARDS or anti-TNF if recurrent!
Small vessel vasculitis
ANCA-aaosicated:
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome)
- Microscopic polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s)
Immune complex:
- Goodpasture’s (anti-GBM disease)
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura
- Cryoglobulinaemic
- Hypocomplementeric urticarial vasculitis
Medium vessel vasculitis
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Kawasaki Disease
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome)
Large vessel vasculitis
- Giant cell arteritis
- Takayasus arteritis
Features that should make you think about a vasculitis
- Purpura (non-blanching)
- Joint and muscle pain
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Renal impairment
- GI disturbances
- Anterior uveitis and scleritis
- HTN
Systemic manifestations of a vasculitis
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Anorexia
- Anaemia
Vasculitis
Ix
- CRP/ESR
- Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)
- p-ANCA and c-ANCA
Vasculitis
Tx
- Steroids
- Cyclophosphamide (or methotrexate, azathioprine, rituximab)
- BUT kawasaki or HSP is different Tx
ANCA types and conditions
cANCA - granulomatosis with polyangiitis
pANCA - eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis + others (see below)
pANCA associated conditions
- Ulcerative colitis (70%)
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (70%)
- Anti-GBM disease (25%)
- Crohn’s disease (20%)
Common findings in ANCA vasculitis
- Renal impairment
- Respiratory symptoms
- Systemic symptoms
- Vasculitis rash
- ENT symptoms (sinusitis)
ANCA vasculitis
Ix
- Urinalysis for haematuria and proteinuria
- FBC normocytic anaemia
- CRP raised
- ANCA testing
- CXR: nodular, fibrotic, infiltrative lesions
Takayasu’s arteritis
Epidemiology
- Younger females
Takayasu’s arteritis
Features
- Systemic features
- Unequal BP in upper limbs
- Carotid bruit and tenderness
- Absent or weak peripheral pulses
- Upper and lower limb claudication on exertion
- Aortic regurgitation
Takayasu’s arteritis
Association
Renal artery stenosis
Takayasu’s arteritis
Management
Steroids
Polyarteritis nodosa
Epidemiology
- More common in middle-aged men
- Associated with hepatitis B infection
Anti-GBM disease
Biopsy
- Linear IgG deposits along basement membrane
- Raised transfer factor secondary to pulmonary haemorrhage
Buerger’s Disease
- Small and medium vessel vasculitis
- Associated with smoking
- Features: intermittent claudication, ischaemic ulcers, superficial thrombophlebitis, Raynauds
Churg strauss syndrome
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)
- p-ANCA-associated
- Asthma, blood eosinophils, paranasal sinusitis, mononeuritis multiplex, pANCA positive
- Tx with leukotriene receptor antagonists
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis vs Churg-Strauss
Both:
- Vasculitis
- Sinusitis
- Dyspnoea
GwP:
- Renal failure
- Epistaxis/haemoptysis
- cANCA
CS:
- Asthma
- Eosinophilia
- pANCA
Kawasaki
Features
- High grade fever for > 5 days
- Resistant to antipyretics
- Conjuncitval inkection
- Bright red, cracked lips
- Strawberry tongue
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Red palms and soles of feet that later peel
Kawasaki
Management
- ASPIRIN (one of few used of aspirin in children)
- IV immunoglobulin
- ECHO - screen for coronary artery aneurysm
Kawasaki
Complications
Coronary artery aneurysm
Why do you not usually use aspirin in children?
Reye’s Syndrome
encephalopathy accompanied by fatty infiltration of liver, kidneys, pancreas
Septic arthritis
RFs
- Pre-existing joint disease
- DM
- Immunosuppression
- CKD
- Recent joint surgery
- Prosthetic joints
- IVDU
- > 80 yrs
SLE
Antibody
Anti-nuclear antibodies (protect a persons own cell nucleus)
SLE
Features
SOAP BRAIN MD
S: Serositis
O: Oral ulcers
A: Arthritis/synovitis
P: Photosensitivity
B: Blood/haem disorders - haemolytic anaemia
R: Renal disorder - proteinuria or red cell casts
A: ANA positive
I: Immunological disorder
N: Neurological disorders (optic neuritis, transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord) or psychosis)
M: Malar rash
D: Discoid rash
Main cause of death = CVS disease
SLE
Investigations
- Autoantibodies - ANA and anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) = more specific!!
- May also find antiphospholipid antibodies (40%) - increase VTE risk
- FBC
- C3 and C4 levels decreased (but C3d and C4d increased)
- Raised ESR, normal CRP
- Immunoglobulins
- PCR (protein creatinine ratio)
- Renal biopsy or PCR for lupus nephritis
Types of anti-nuclear antibodies and their conditions
- Anti-Smith (highly specific to SLE but not very sensitive)
- Anti-centromere antibodies (most associated with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis)
- Anti-Ro and Anti-La (most associated with Sjogren’s syndrome)
- Anti-Scl-70 (most associated with systemic sclerosis)
- Anti-Jo-1 (most associated with dermatomyositis)
SLE
Epidemiology
- More common in WOMEN (90%)
- Typically child-bearing age
- More common in HLA B8, DR2, DR3
SLE
Diagnostic criteria
- SLICC Criteria
- ACR Critera
SLE
Lifestyle management
- F50 suncream
- Assessment of lupus activity in clinic
- Patient education
- Screen for major organ involvement
- Assessment of damage
SLE
Pharmacological management
- NSAIDs
- Steroids
- Replace steroids for long term use: Methotrexate, azathioprine, ciclosporin
- Anticoagulants if increased clotting risk
SLE
Tx of mild flares (no organ involvement)
Hydroxychloroquine or low-dose steroids
SLE
Tx of moderate flares (organ involvement)
- May require DMARDs or mycophenolate