Msk + Rheumatology Flashcards
What is the MC arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
Define oseoarthritis (OA)
Progressive synovial joint damage ‘wear and tear’
Effectively non inflammatory degeneration
Who is commonly affected by OA?
> 55
Women
What are the risk factors of OA?
Increased age
Female
Obesity
Manual labour
Genetics
What gene can predispose OA?
COL2A1 (type 2 collagen)
What cartilage is most commonly affected by OA?
articular cartilage
Outline the pathophysiology of OA
Destruction and breakdown of cartilage -> imbalanced collagen breakdown and repair -> chondrocytes secreted -> degrade collagen -> bone attempts to replace -> abnormal bony growths
What are the symptoms of OA?
Transient morning pain worsening throughout the day
Bouchard and hebderen nodes on fingers
Asymmetrical hard joints
Where are Bouchard nodes located?
proximal interphalangeal joints (PIPJs)
Where are Hebderen nodes located
Distal interphalangeal joints (DIPJs)
What is the way to remember the location of Hebderen and Bouchard nodes?
B is before H so Bouchard’s are more proximal than Heberden’s
How is OA diagnosed?
X-ray: (LOSS) Loss of joint space, Osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis and cysts
Rheumatoid factor and Antinuclear antibodies are NEGATIVE
How is OA treated?
Weight loss and physio
NSAIDs
Steroid injections
Surgery (arthroplasty- hip or knee replacement)
Define rheumatoid arthritis
autoimmune disorder causing symmetrical polyarthritis and destruction of the synovial joints
What are the risk factors of RA?
Smoking
Women 30-50
FHx
Autoimmune disease
Outline the pathophysiology of RA
Overproduction of TNF-alpha -> synovitis and joint destruction -> leukocytes forced into synovial -> inflammation -> damages cartilage -> bone exposed
What are the symptoms of RA?
Pain worse in morning but easier as day goes on
Symmetrical joints
Extraarticular symptoms
Swollen,tender and warm
Hand deformities
What are 3 hand deformities in RA?
Ulnar deviation
Swan neck/Z thumb
Boutonniere deformity
What genes predispose RA?
HLA DR4
HLA DR1
How is RA differentiated from PA?
DIP spared in RA
How is RA differentiated from Spondylarthropathies?
RA spares lumbar spine
What is ulnar deviation?
Fingers deviate medially towards the ulna at MCP
What is Bouttonieres deformity?
PIP flexion + DIP hyperextesnion
What is swan neck deformity?
PIP hyperextension + DIP flexion
What 6 other organs can be affected by RA?
Lungs
Heart
Eyes
Brain and CNS
Kidneys
Skin
What does splenomegaly indicate in RA?
Feltys syndrome
What is Feltys syndrome?
Triad of
RA
Splenomegaly
Neutropenia
How is RA diagnosed?
ESR and CRP raised
Positive rheumatoid factor (RF)
Positive anti-CCP
X-ray
What are the signs of RA on X-ray?
LESS
Lost joint space
Bony Erosion
Soft tissue swelling
Periarticular osteopenia
How is RA treated?
Urgent referral to prevent deformity
DMARDs (GS)
NSAID analgesia
Intraarticular steroid injections
Biologicals
What is an example of a DMARD?
methotrexate
What are 2 biological treatments of RA?
Infliximab
Rituximab
What type of drug is infliximab?
TNF-a inhibitor
What type of drug is rituximab?
CD40 B cell inhibitor
What are 3 differences between RA and OA?
RA pain eases with use, OA gets worse
RA is hot and red
RA usually presents younger and is more genetic
OA affects knees
RA responds to NSAIDs, OA not as much
RA has faster onset
What are 2 crystal arthropathies?
Gout
Pseudogout
What is the MC inflammatory arthritis in the UK?
Gout
Define gout
Inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricaemia and intraarticular monosodium urate crystals
Define hyperuricaemia
High levels of uric acid
Define gouty tophi
nodular masses of monosodium urate crystals deposited in the soft tissues of the body
Who is most affected by gout?
Overweight middle aged men
Why are women less likely to develop gout?
Oestrogen promotes uric acid excretion in kidneys
What are the risk factors of gout?
High alcohol intake (especially beer)
Purine rich foods (red meat)
diuretics
High fructose intake
FHx
Obesity
Outline the pathophysiology of gout
Purines ->uric acid via xanthine oxidase -> monosodium urate crystals -> symptomatic gout and pain
Will everyone with hyperuricaemia develop gout?
No- only round 1/5
What are the symptoms of gout?
Sudden very painful onset and swelling and redness in big toe (MTP)
Can also affect ankle, base of thumb
Gouty tophi (chronic)
How is gout diagnosed?
Joint fluid aspiration and light microscopy
-negatively bifringent needle shaped urate crystals
- no bacterial growth
Increased urate on blood test
Joint X-ray: punched out erosions and lytic lesions
How are acute gout flare ups treated?
NSAIDs
Colchicine (targets acid crystalisation)
IM injections (eg Prednisolone)
When should gout prophylaxis be initiated?
1-2 weeks post flare up
What is used in gout prophylaxis?
1.Allopurinol
2. Febuxostat
Reduce red meat and eat more dairy!
How does allopurinol work?
Inhibits xanthine oxidase = less uric acid production
How does febuxostat work?
Non-purine xanthine oxidase inhibitor- basically same as allopurinol but used if contraindicated?
What are negatively bifringent needle shaped urate crystals indicative of?
Gout
Define pseudogout
Deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals on joint surface
Who is mostly affected by pseudogout?
Elderly women
What are 3 risk factors of pseudogout?
Old age
DM
Osteoarthritis
Hyperparathydroidism
What are the symptoms of pseudogout?
Hot swollen tender joint
Usually knee or wrist
Fever
What is the differential diagnosis of pseudogout?
Septic arthritis
How is pseudogout diagnosed?
Joint aspiration:
- positively bifringent rhomboid shaped crystals (Positive = Pseudo)
X-ray: chondrocalcinosis
Rule out septic arthritis
How is pseudogout treated?
- NSAIDs
- Colchicine
- Corticosteroid eg. Prednisolone
Joint aspiration can be very helpful
What are 3 differences between gout and pseudogout?
Pseudogout patients tend to be older
Pseudogout affects larger joints
Swelling worse in gout
Gout = uric acid deposition, pseudo = calcium pyrophosphate
Gout= negatively bifringest, pseudo= positively
What do positively bifringent rhomboid shaped crystals indicate?
Pseudogout
What is deposited in gout?
Uric acid/ urate crystals
What is deposited in pseudogout?
Calcium pyrophosphate
Define osteoporosis
Bone mineral density (BMD) >2.5 standard deviations below the young adult mean value
Define osteopenia
Precursor to oesteoporosis
BMD between 1-2.5 standard deviations below the young adult mean value
Define osteomalacia
Poor bone mineralisation causing soft bone due to lack of Ca2+, vitamin D and phosphate
What is a DEXA scan?
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
Used to calculate T score
What does a T score of >-1 indicate?
Normal
What does a T score of -1 to -2.5 indicate?
Osteopenia
What does a T score of >-2.5 indicate?
Osteoporosis
Who is most commonly affected by osteoporosis?
Post menopausal women >50
What are the risk factors of osteoporosis?
SHATTERED
Steroid use
Hyper(para)thyroidism
Alcohol and tobacco
Thin
Testosterone decreased
Early menopause
Renal or liver failure
Erosive/inflammatory bone disease
Dietary calcium low
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Only fracture!
What are 3 mc fractures in oesteoporosis?
Proximal femur
Vertebral crush fracture
Colles fracture of the wrist
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
DEXA scan (GS)
FRAX score
What is FRAX score used for?
Uses data to calculate risk of fracture over 10 years
How is osteoporosis treated?
- Bisphosphonates (sit for 30 mins after)
- Vitamin D and calcium supplements
-HRT in women
-Denosumab
- Recombinant PTH
What are 2 biphosophate drugs?
MC: Alendronate (once weekly)
Risedronate (once weekly)
Zolendronic acid (once yearly) IV
How do bisphosophates work?
Inhibit bone breakdown by decreasing osteoclast activity
How does denosumab work?
Inhibits RANK so osteoclasts can not be activated
What is an example of a recombinant PTH drug?
Teriparatide
How do recombinant PTHs work?
Increases osteoblast activity and bone formation
Define fibromyalgia
Widespread MSK pain for 3+ months after all other diseases have been excluded
- Basically MSK version of IBS
Who is most commonly affected by fibromyalgia?
Usually women
Any age (usually 20-50)
Depression and stress
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Chronic widespread pain
Aggravated by stress, cold and activity
Fatigue and irritability
Waking up in the night
What are 2 differential diagnoses of fibromyalgia?
PMR
SLE
Hypothyroidism
Low vitamin D
RA
What pain pathway is affected by fibromyalgia?
Non-nocioceptive
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
Exclude everything else (TFT, ESR+CRP, low vit D)
Pain in 11/18 tender points on body on palpation
How is fibromyalgia treated?
Educate patient and family
Physio
Low dose antidepressants and anticonvulsant
What are the complications of fibromyalgia?
Really bad quality of life :(
Opiate addiction
Anxiety and depression
Define polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
Large vessel vasculitis presenting as chronic pain syndrome
Who is mc affected by PMR?
Women ALWAYS >50
What are the symptoms of PMR?
Similar to fibromyalgia
Sudden onset of severe pain and stiffness of joints, hips, and lumber spine
Worse in morning
Fatigue, weight loss, depression
How is PMR diagnosed?
ESR and CRP raised
Clinical history
May have anaemia of chronic disease
Temporal artery biopsy may show GCA
How is PMR treated?
Oral Prednisolone or corticosteroids help a lot
-Prevent osteoporosis
Define Sjögren’s syndrome
Chronic t4 inflammatory autoimmune mediated destruction of epithelial exocrine glands
What are the 2 categories of Sjögren’s syndrome?
Primary: MC in females
Secondary: secondary to connective tissue disease eg. RA, SLE
What are the risk factors of sjogrens?
Female
7x more likely with first degree relative
>50
What gene is associated with primary Sjögren’s?
HLA-B8/ DR3
What are the symptoms of Sjögren’s?
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes)
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Dryness of skin and vagina
Some have systemic symptoms
What is xerostomia?
Dry mouth due to decreased saliva production
What is keratoconjunctivitus sicca?
Dry eyes
How is Sjögren’s diagnosed?
Anti-Ro and anti LA
Schirmer tear test
Rose bengal staining
What is a schirmer tear test?
Strip of test paper put in lower eyelid
- wetting of <10mm in 5 mins indicates Sjögren’s
What is rose bengal staining?
Staining of eyes shows keratitis in sjogrens
What are anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies specific to?
Sjögren’s
How is sjogrens treated/managed?
Artificial tears and saliva replacement
NSAIDs and hydrxychloroquine
Vaginal lube
What are the complications of Sjögren’s?
Eye infections
Vaginal problems
Oral problems
Vasculitis
Neuropathy
What are 3 categories of vasculitis?
Large vessel
Medium vessel
Small vessel
Define vasculitis
Inflammation of vessel wall
What is the main treatment of vasculitis?
Corticosteroids
What are 2 types of large vessel vasculitis?
Giant cell arteritis/ polymyalgia rheumatica (MC)
Takayasu’s arteritis
What are 2 types of medium vessel vasculitis?
Polyarteritis nodosa / PAN (MC)
Kawasaki’s disease
What are 2 types of small vessel vasculitis?
Granulomatosis with polyangitis/ Wegners/GPA (MC)
Eosinophilia granulomatosis with polyangitis/ churg Strauss(EGPA)
What do ANCAs indicate in vasculitis?
Small cell vasculitis
Define giant cell arteritis (GCA)
Inflammatory granulomatous arteritis of large cerebral arteries and other large vessels such as the aorta
Who is commonly affected by GCA?
> 50
Women
Northern European