Osteoarthritis and Reactive Arthritis Flashcards
Define reactive arthritis.
Sterile inflammation in joints following infection, especially urogenital and gastrointestinal infections
State a urogenital infection that can cause reactive arthritis.
Chlamydia trachomatis
Give some examples of gastrointestinal infections that are associated with reactive arthritis.
Shigella
Salmonella
Campylobacter
What subset of the population does reactive arthritis tend to occur in?
It occurs mainly in young adults with a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger
How long after the infection does the reactive arthritis tend to appear?
1-4 weeks
Describe the features of the arthritis in reactive arthritis.
- asymmetrical arthritis
- oligoarthritis (affecting between 2 to 4 joints, less than 5)
- lower limbs more affected
Reactive arthritis can cause enthesopathy. Which entheses are likely to get affected and what symptoms will that cause?
(enthesis is the connective tissue between tendon or ligament and bone)
- Achilles tendonitis
- Dactylitis
- Metatarsalgia (painful feet because of inflammation of the palmar fascia)
What is a very common feature of seronegative spondyloarthropathies?
Sacro-iliitis
State some extra-articular features of reactive arthritis?
- Genitourinary (Sterile urethritis)
- Skin inflammation (Circinate balanitis, Keratoderma blennorhagicum)
- Eye inflammation (Sterile conjunctivitis)
What is the triad of symptoms that can be used to describe reactive arthritis?
Reiter’s syndrome – joint inflammation + urethritis + conjunctivitis
Where can you get spondylitis in rheumatoid arthritis?
At the atlanto-axial joint – there is synovium here
Describe the main differences between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and reactive arthritis (ReA).
Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Reactive Arthritis
Sex Ratio:
F>M - M>F
Arthritis:
Symmetrical, Polyarticular, Small&Large Joints VS Asymmetrical, Oligoarticular, Large joints
Enthesopathy:
NO - YES
Spondylitis:
NO (Except atlanto-axial joint in cervical spine) - YES
Urethritis:
NO - YES
Skin involvement:
Subcutaneous nodules VS K.blennorhagicum, Circinate balanitis
Rheumatoid factor:
YES - NO
HLA association:
HLA-DR4 - HLA-B27
What is the main danger in septic arthritis?
The bacteria produce metalloproteinases that can rapidly degrade the articular cartilage
What are the main differences between septic arthritis and reactive arthritis?
Septic arthritis has a positive synovial fluid culture
It is treated with antibiotics and may even require joint lavage
Describe the treatment of reactive arthritis.
It usually resolves by itself in 2-6 months
NSAIDs to control pain and symptomatic treatment of extra-articular manifestations
no role for antibiotics