MSK + rheumatology Flashcards
What conditions fall into inflammatory arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Seronegative spondyloarthritis
Crystal arthritis (gout and pseudogout)
Difference between rheumatoid and seronegative arthritis
Rheumatoid: starts in small joints, bigger joints not affected until later in course of disease. Seronegative involves big joints from beginning
Rheumatoid: symmetrical, Seronegative: asymmetrical
Rheumatoid has no spinal involvement, seronegative involves spine
Rheumatoid more common in females, seroneg males
basically complete opposites
What is Raynaud’s?
vasospasm that causes digits to change colour to white (pallor) from lack of blood flow, usually brought on by cold temperatures
What is systemic lupus erythematosus?
SLE is an inflammatory autoimmune connective tissue disorder.
Chronic and affects multiple systems.
Who does SLE affect?
More common in Afro-Caribbean and Asian
9/10 patients are women
Peak age of onset ranges from 30 to 70 years in women and between 50 and 70 years in men
What can cause SLE?
incl. environmental possible triggers
Genetic + environmental
Environmental triggers
- UV radiation
- Drugs: procainamide, sulfasalazine, minocycline, isoniazid
- Viral: EBV, CMV, parovirus B19
- Hormonal: oestrogen
What is the pathophysiology in SLE?
Environmental trigger damages cells causing apoptosis.
leads to the release of nuclear antigens from the apoptosing cells.
B cells produce anti-nuclear antibodies in response and form antigen-antibody complexes.
These complexes travel and deposit in tissue causing an inflammatory response and tissue damage (type 3 hypersensitivity)
What are the risk factors for SLE?
Female sex
age >30 years
African descent in Europe and US
Certain meds
sun exposure
family history of SLE
tobacco smoking
What meds are associated with SLE?
procainamide
minocycline
terbinafine
sulfasalazine
isoniazid
phenytoin
carbamazepine
Why is the risk of thrombosis increased in SLE?
presence of antiphospholipid antibodies increases the risk
What are the symptoms of SLE?
Skin: malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitive rash
Haematological: anaemia (can be haemolytic), thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia
Fatigue
Weight loss
Fever
Oral ulcers
Arthralgia/ arthritis
Serositis: pleuritis, pericarditis
Thrombosis
Abdo pain, D&V
Raynaud’s
Hair loss
Nephrosis
What course does SLE follow?
relapsing-remitting course
with flares of worse symptoms and periods where symptoms settle
What autoantibodies are relevant in SLE?
ANA
anti-dsDNA
anti-Ro
anti-Sm
anti-La
antiphospholipid
What investigations should be done for SLE?
ANA: positive, but not specific for lupus
Double stranded DNA antibody (+ other autoantibodies)
FBC: anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
Urea and creatinine: rise when renal disease advanced
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein: ESR raised, CRP normal/raised
In SLE, who has antiphospholipid syndrome?
Patients with thrombosis, recurrent miscarriages and persistent positive aPL blood tests
Differentials for SLE
Rheumatoid arthritis
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Systemic sclerosis
Mixed connective tissue disease
Lyme disease
What is the non-pharmacological treatment for SLE?
sun protection
diet and nutrition - avoiding CVD
exercise
psychological treatment
smoking cessation
Pharmacological treatment options for SLE
NSAIDs
Hydroxychloroquine
Corticosteroids (pred) + immunosuppressive drugs
What are some possible complications of SLE?
Haematological: anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia
Corticosteroid complications
Inflammation: myocarditis, endocarditis, pleuritis, pericarditis
Miscarriage in presence of aPL
Thrombosis
What can cause oedema in SLE?
Lupus nephritis causing inflammation in kidney, nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria) and hypoalbuminaemia
How is lupus nephritis diagnosed?
Renal biopsy showing crescent shaped swelling and a wire loop pattern
What is antiphospholipid syndrome?
persistently elevated antiphospholipid antibodies characterised by thromboses and pregnancy-related morbidity
1/3 of patients have SLE
What investigations would you run for antiphospholipid syndrome?
- Anticardiolipin test:
- Lupus anticoagulant test:
- Anti-B2-glycoprotein I test:
What is Marfan’s syndrome?
Autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder characterised by loss of elastic tissue