Other Types of Arthritis Flashcards
Other than rheumatoid, list 4 other types of arthritis.
Septic arthritis
Crystal arthropathy
Reactive arthritis
Degenerative arthritis
Describe the clinical features of septic arthritis. (6)
Signs of infection:
- Pain
- Fever
- Swollen joint
- Loss of function
Only one joint affected
Associated with preceding infection
List 3 common causative organisms in septic arthritis.
List 4 less common causative organisms.
COMMON ORGANISMS:
Staph aureus
Neisseria gonorrhoea
Haemophilus influenza
LESS COMMON: TB Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdoferi) Brucellosis Syphilis
List 2 risk factors for septic arthritis.
Steroid use
Rheumatoid arthritis
List 4 routes of infection which can cause septic arthritis.
Haematogenous (from systemic infection)
From adjacent osteomyelitis
From skin/soft tissue
Disruption of the joint capsule (e.g. injection, trauma)
Describe the pathophysiology of septic arthritis. (2)
- Infection within the joint causes inflammation
- Synovium becomes inflamed with the formation of a fibrin exudate (containing many neutrophils)
a. This causes fibrin deposits on joint surface
b. This leads to loss of articular cartilage
c. This causes secondary osteoarthritis
Which investigations would you do for septic arthritis? (4)
Joint aspirate microbiology:
- Gram staining
- Aspirate culture
Blood tests:
- FBC (increased WCC)
- Blood cultures
What are the 2 types of crystal arthropathy?
Gout
Pseudo-gout
Define gout.
Defective purine metabolism, causing an excess of uric acid and its salts to accumulate in the bloodstream and joints
Describe the clinical features of gout. Consider:
a) Acute gout (2)
b) Chronic gout (2)
ACUTE:
Acute inflammation of joint
Monoarthritis
CHRONIC:
Tophi in skin/cartilage (especially ears)
Joint destruction
Describe the usual distribution of gout. (2)
Monoarthritis
Often MTP joint of big toe
List 5 factors which might precipitate an acute gout attack.
Trauma Surgery Starvation Infection Diuretic use
What is gout caused by? (11)
Excess levels of uric acid, e.g.
- Age
- Obesity
- Alcohol abuse
- High protein diet
- Diabetes mellitus
Primary causes, e.g.
- Genetic predisposition
- Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Secondary causes, e.g.
- Myeloproliferative disorders
- Leukaemia
- Thiazide diuretics
- Chronic renal disease
What investigations would you do for gout? (4)
Bloods:
- Serum urate levels
- U&Es
Joint aspirate:
-Polarised light microscopy
X-ray
In gout, what would you see on polarised light microscopy? (1)
What would you see on x-ray? (2)
MICROSCOPY:
Negatively birefringent needle-shaped crystals
X-RAY:
Soft tissue swelling
Punched out juxta-articular swellings
How would treat an acute attack of gout? (3)
NSAIDs (high dose), e.g.
- Colchicine
- Corticosteroids
Rest
Elevate affected joint