Overview of Inflammatory Arthritis

Question 1

Articular vs non-articular msk disease

Answer 1

Articular: arising from the joints

Non-articular: arising from structures like soft tissue outside of the joint capsule

Question 2

of joints for

1. Oligoarthritis
2. Polyarthritis

Answer 2

1. 4 or fewer

2. 5 or more

Question 3

Changes in RA

Answer 3

Bone erosion
Swollen inflamed synovial membrane
Cartilage wears away
Bony ankylosis
Generalized narrowing

Question 4

RA distribution in the hands

Answer 4

MCPs
PIPs
Entire wrist
Spares the DIPs!

Question 5

Characteristics of
1. Non inflammatory
2. Inflammatory
synovial fluid

Answer 5

1. Clear, viscous, low WBC (mostly monos)

2. Turbid, cloudy, watery, high WBCs (mostly PMNs)

Question 6

Features of inflammatory arthritis

Answer 6

Prolonged AM stiffness
Mornings are often worst time
Can have night pain

Question 7

3 viral infections that can cause a polyarthritis

Answer 7

HBV
Parvovirus B19
Rubella

Question 8

2 main seropositive arthritises

Answer 8

RA

SLE

Question 9

What does seropositive mean

Answer 9

+ for RF
or
+ for CCP

Question 10

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Answer 10

Seropositive
Tends to be symmetric
Often has nodules
Often has erosions on Xray
Deforming form of arthritis
Requires disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug

Question 11

Pannus

Answer 11

Hypertrophied synovium in RA

Question 12

What is one way on xray to differentiate lupus from RA

Answer 12

Lupus never leads to erosions

Question 13

Extra articular features of RA

Answer 13

Nodules
Sjogren's syndrome (dry eyes and mouth, parotid gland enlargement)
Scleritis/episcleritis/keratitis
Lung (pleuritis, nodules, interstitial fibrosis)
Heart (pericarditis)
Peripheral neuropathy
Vasculitis/leg ulcers
Amyloidosis