Musculoskeletal Flashcards
Define amyloidosis
Heterogenous group of diseases characterised by extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils
Recall the subtypes of amyloidosis
Type AA: serum Amyloid A protein
Type AL: monoclonal Ig Light chains
Type ATTR: genetic variant TransThyRetin
Which are the main 2 organs affected by amyloidosis?
Kidneys
Heart
What sort of cardiomyopathy do you get in amyloidosis?
Restrictive
Exactly define ankylosing spondylitis
Seronegative inflammatory arthropathy preferentially affecting the axial skeleton and large proximal joints
What is the HLA association of ankylosing spondylitis?
HLA-B27
What is the main symptom of ankylosing spondylitis?
Lower back and sacral pain that is worse in the morning and better with exercise
What is the Schober test and what is it used for?
Mark at 5th lumbar spinous process Mark at 10cm above this Get patient to lean forwards Gap --> 15cm = test for ankylosing spondylitis
Recall the 5 As of extraarticular disease that may be seen alongside ankylosing spondylitis
Anterior uveitis Apical lung fibrosis Aortic regurgitation Amyloidosis Achilles tendonitis
Recall two x ray findings in ankylosing spondylitis
Bamboo spine
Sacroiliac joint fusion
Define anti-phospholipid syndrome (mnemonic = APL)
Arterial and venous thrombi
Platelet-producing cells decrease
Loss of foetuses
Describe the pathophysiology of anti-phospholipid syndrome
Develops secondary to infection in susceptible individuals
Recall the triad of symptoms in anti-phospholipid syndrome
Headaches
Chorea
Epilepsy
What would an FBC show in anti-phospholipid syndrome?
Thrombocytopaenia
What is Bechet’s disease?
Multisystem inflammatory disease that causes uveitis and orogenital ulceration
What is the HLA association of Bechet’s disease?
HLA-B51
What is the pethergy test and what is it used to diagnose?
Prick skin with needle and it will form a sterile pustule within 48 hours
Bechet’s disease
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Compression of median nerve by the flexor reticulum
Recall 3 signs of carpal tunnel syndrome
- Thenar eminence wasting
- Tinel’s sign (symptoms come on when you tap carpal tunnel)
- Phalen’s test (symptoms come on following flexion of wrist for one min)
Recall the aetiology of cervical spondylitis
Osteoarthritic degeneration –> osteophyte formation –> protrusion into spinal foramina
Nerve root compression –> radiculopathy
Anterior spinal cord compression –> myelopathy
What is the most common symptom of cervical spondolysis?
Pain in neck and arms with paraesthesia
How do the arms appear in cervical spondylitis?
Forearm and hand may be wasted but upper arm spared
What investigation is required to diagnose cervical spondylitis?
Lateral X ray of spine
How long do fibromyalgia symptoms have to persist in order for a diagnosis to be made?
More than 3 months
What sort of inflammation causes giant cell arteritis?
Granulomatous
Recall the symptoms of giant cell arteritis
Headache on one side of head at temple
Swelling and tenderness over temporal artery
Jaw claudication
Sudden blindness
Describe the ESR and CRP in temporal arteritis
Both elevated
Recall the medical management of temporal arteritis
Analgesia
High dose prednisolone
Aspirin
Inflammation in which branch of the external carotid causes jaw claudication in giant cell arteritis?
Maxillary
What sort of crystals are deposited in gout?
Monosodium urate
Recall a sign of gout that appears away from the sore hallux
Tophi
= little lumps of uric acid on elbows/ ears
What dietay excess increases risk of gout?
Purines
Why does lymphoma carry a risk of gout?
Tumour lysis syndrome –> uric acid release
How high does urate need to be to diagnose gout?
> 250
What shape are the crystals in gout?
Negative birefrigent needle-shaped crystals
What shape are the crystals in pseudogout?
Positive birefrigent rhomboid-shaped
What is the diagnostic test for gout?
Needle-stick to obtain crystals
Recall the management of gout
NSAIDs (but note: cannot give to pts with renal failure)
Steroids
Chronic: allopurinol (xanthinine oxidase inhibitor)
Recall 4 groups of people who are at increased risk of getting gout
- Those with high purine diet
- Those with luekaemia/ lymphoma
- Renal failure patients
- Men (10 x more common)
Which joint is most commonly affected by gout?
Metatarsophalangeal joint of hallux