MSK / Rheumatology Flashcards
What would make something a degenerative disease rather than an inflammatory disease?
Pain increases with use - clicks/clunks Stiffness is not prolonged (less than 30 minutes) - any time of day No swelling Not clinically inflammed Older Patients Less convincing response to NSAIDs
What would make something an inflammatory disease rather than degenerative disease?
Pain Eases With Use
Stiffness: Significant (more than 60 minutes), early morning or at rest
Swelling, synovial and/or bony joints
Hot and Red
Young Patients, Psoriasis or Family History
Responds well to NSAIDs
What kind of cartilage is most affected by osteoarthritis?
Articular Cartilage
What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
Genetic condition in which symptoms may include hyperflexible joints, stretchy skin, and abnormal scar formation
What is the management procedure for a bone fracture?
Reduce, Immobilise, Rehabilitate - use analgesia and examine before and after manipulation
Name some of the common conditions associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Amyloidosis, Lung Involvement: Pleural Effusion, Fibrosing alveolitis, Anaemia (Normochromic normocytic, iron deficiency), Peripheral Neuropathy, Scleritis
What are some of the risk factors for osteoporosis?
Inflammatory Disease (cytokines increase bone resorption)
Endocrine diseases - Thyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone increase bone turnover so hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism.
Cushing’s Syndrome - overproduction of cortisol.
Early Menopause
Anorexia, low body weight.
Medications: Glucocorticoids, Depo=provera (contraceptive pill), Oestrogen Blockers, GnRH analogues
What are the common symptoms of gout?
Typically presents in middle aged male with sudden onset of sever pain, swelling and redness of the metatarsophalangeal joint. Attack may be precipitated by dietary or alcoholic excess. dehydration or starting a diuretic.
What is the first marker to be raised in the inflammation process? - what does this do
Anti-inflammatory cytokines - IL-1, IL-6 and TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor) - They release proteinases that lead to destruction of cartilage
What is a T Score?
A Standard deviation comparing your bone density with a gender matched young adult mean score. Above -1 is good, below -2.5 is osteoporosis. In the middle is osteopenia.
What are some of the clinical features of Carpal Tunnel syndrome?
Weakness and wasting of thenar muscles, and sensory loss of palm and palmar aspects of radial three and a half fingers. Tapping may induce pain.
What tool is used to diagnose osteoporosis - what is required for a diagnosis?
DXA Scan - T Score lower than -2.5
What are the four cardinal signs of an inflammation?
Rubour, Calor, Tumour, Dolor
How does Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) present - limited cutaneous scleroderma?
Usually starts with Raynaud’s Phenomenon and followed by skin changes (thickening, bound to underlying structure and fingers taper) ‘Beaking’ of the nose - painful digital ulcers
How do Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) work? Give an example.
Mainly through inhibition of inflammatory cytokines - reduce inflammation and slow development of joint erosion. Methotrexate
Histologically, how are gout and pseudogout differentiated?
Calcium pyrophosohate crystals are positively befringent under polarised light, sodium urate crystals are negatively befringent under polarised light.
What is Bradford-Hill Criteria?
9 principles of causality:
- Strength of Association
- Consistency in association
- Exposure-response relationship
- Specificity
- Temporal Relationship
- Coherence of Evidence
- Biological Gradient
- Plausibility
- Analogy
What are the symptoms for osteoarthritis?
Pain
Functional Impairment of Activities of Daily Living
Alteration in Gait
Joint Swelling
Bony Enlargement
Tenderness
Crepitus (grating, crackling, popping under skin and joints)
What are some of the signs and symptoms of Marfan’s Syndrome?
Disproportionately long legs, arms, toes and fingers Extremely tall and slender build Long, narrow face High arched neck and crowded teeth Indented or protruding sternum Cystic changes in lungs Flat feet Curved Spine
How does Allopurinol work
Inhibits xanthine oxidase, an enzyme in the purine breakdown pathway
What are some of the characteristic symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?
Wolf rash on face, joint pain and stiffness, extreme tireness that won’t go away with rest, skin rashes over nose and cheeks. Raynaud’s, weight loss, swollen glands and sensitivity to light
How can repetitive strain disorder be treated?
Regular rest breaks, reduces force, ergonomically neutral working posture, ergonomic computer keyboards and mice
Describe Gout.
Inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricaemia and intra-articular sodium urate crystal deposition.
Which organism most commonly causes septic arthritis?
Staphylococcus Aureus
What blood markers would indicate inflammatory disease?
Raised ESR and Fibrinogen
Which conditions are highly associated with the HLA B27 gene? What does HLA stand for?
Spondyloarthritis:
Including psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis and enteropathic arthritis - Human Leucocyte Antigen
Which radioisotope is used to image bones on MRI?
Technetium 99
How is gout treated in an acute attack?
Anti inflammatory drugs, NSAIDS such as diclofenac or Cox inhibitors such as lumiracoxib. If NSAIDS intolerated give colchicine. Corticosteroids can also be used such as methylprednisolone