MSK: Osteoarthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis Flashcards
Where does osteoarthritis (OA) occur?
Synovial joints
Commonly affected joints in OA?
- Hips
- Knees
- DIP joints in hands
- Carpometacarpal (CMC) joint at the base of the thumb
- Lumbar spine
- Cervical spine (cervical spondylosis)
Risk factors for OA?
- Female
- Obesity
- Occupation
- Trauma
- FH
- Age
The four key x-ray changes in osteoarthritis can be remembered with the “LOSS” mnemonic.
What are they?
L - loss of joint space
O - osteophytes (bone spurs)
S - subarticular sclerosis (increased density of the bone along the joint line)
S - subchondral cysts (fluid-filled holes in the bone)
May be called degenerative change
Xrays vs symptoms in OA?
X-ray changes do not necessarily correlate with symptoms. A patient might have significant signs on an x-ray but minimal symptoms, or the reverse.
Presentation of OA?
- Joint pain & stiffness
- Bulky, bony enlargement of the joint
- Restricted range of motion
- Crepitus on movement
- Effusions (fluid) around the joint
Describe the pain and stiffness in OA?
Better in morning and worse with activity and at end of day.
Morning stiffness lasts for less than 30 minutes.
If morning stiffness lasts for longer than 30 minutes, what condition does it indicate?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Give some hand signs seen in OA
- Heberden’s nodes
- Bouchard’s nodes
- Squaring at the base of the thumb (CMC joint)
- Weak grip
- Reduced range of motion
What joint do Herbeden’s nodes affect?
DIP joints
(Herb goes far)
What joint do Bouchard’s nodes affect?
PIP joints
TIP - referred pain in OA
Patients may present with referred pain, particularly in the adjacent joints. For example, consider osteoarthritis in the hip in patients presenting with lower back or knee pain.
When can a diagnosis of OA be made WITHOUT investigations?
What 3 features are needed?
1) Over 45 y/o
2) Typical pain associated with activity
3) Has no morning stiffness (or stiffness lasting under 30 minutes)
Non-pharmacological management of OA?
1) Therapeutic exercise to improve strength and function and reduce pain
2) Weight loss if overweight, to reduce the load on the joint
3) Occupational therapy to support activities and function (e.g., walking aids and adaptations to the home)
What is 1st line pharmacological management in OA?
NSAIDs
1st line usually topical (e.g. knee OA)
Oral where suitable
What must oral NSAIDs be prescribed with in OA?
co-prescribed with a proton pump inhibitor for gastroprotection
Pharmacological management options in OA?
1) NSAIDs (topical or oral)
2) Intra-articular steroid injections –> may temporarily improve symptoms
3) Joint replacement –> severe cases (most commonly knee and hip)
Weak opiates and paracetamol are only recommended for short-term, infrequent use.
Are strong opiates recommended in OA?
NO
Potential adverse effects of NSAIDs?
1) GI side effects e.g. gastritis and peptic ulcers (leading to upper gastrointestinal bleeding)
2) Renal e.g. AKI (e.g., acute tubular necrosis) and CKD
3) CVS side effects e.g. s hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke
4) Exacerbating asthma
Impact of NSAIDs on asthma?
Can exacerbate it
Is the WHO pain ladder useful in chronic pain?
No
How can NSAIDs cause HTN?
Block prostaglandins (prostaglandins cause vasodilation) –> use very cautiously with a history of high blood pressure
What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
An autoimmune condition that causes chronic inflammation in the SYNOVIAL LINING (synovitis) of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa. It is a type of inflammatory arthritis.
What does inflammation of the tendons in RA increase the risk of?
Tendon rupture
Does RA typically affect joints asymmetrically or symmetrically across body?
What about OA?
RA –> symmetrically (this is called symmetrical polyarthritis)
OA –> asymetrically
Is RA more common in men or women?
Women (2-3x)
Risk factors for RA?
- Middle age
- Smoking
- Obesity
- FH
What is the most common gene associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
HLA DR4
The disease course varies between patients, from mild and remitting to severe and progressive.
Positive antibodies can predict worse disease.
What Abs may be seen in RA?
1) Rheumatoid factor (RF)
2) Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP antibodies)
What % of RA is RF present in?
Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an autoantibody present in around 70% of RA patients.
What does RF target in RA?
What does this cause?
It targets the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) –> this causes immune system activation against the patient’s own IgG, resulting in systemic inflammation.
What type of immunoglobulin is RF normally?
IgM
Are RF autoantibodies or anti-CCP antibodies more sensitive and specific for RA?
Anti-CCP
What % of RA are anti-CCP antibodies present in?
They are positive in around 80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Which antibodies can pre-date the development of rheumatoid arthritis (i.e. may indicate that a patient will develop the condition at some point)?
Anti-CCP
Presentation of RA?
Speed of onset can vary from rapid (e.g., overnight) to gradual (e.g., over months).
Joint symptoms:
1) Pain
2) Stiffness
3) Swelling
Systemic symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Flu-like illness
- Muscles aches and weakness
Describe the stiffness seen in RA
Typically worse in morning (lasts >30 minutes) and improves with activity
What 4 joints does RA typically affect?
Rheumatoid arthritis typically causes symmetrical distal polyarthritis affecting the small joints of the hands and feet:
1) Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints
2) Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints
3) Wrist
4) Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints (in the foot)
N.B. Large joints such as the ankle, knee, hips, and shoulders can also be affected. It can affect the cervical spine (but not the lumbar spine).
On palpation of joints in RA, what may they feel like?
1) Tenderness
2) Synovial thickening - ‘boggy’ feeling
Does OA or RA typically affect the distal interphalangeal joints?
OA (Herberden’s nodes)