Pathophysiology II Flashcards
test 1
T or F?
RA is a systemic autoimmune disorder (abnormal antibodies attack your own body) that affects the joints and connective tissues of the body
True
Who does RA mostly affect?
Young and middle-aged women, usually in the small joints of hands and feet
What does RA overall do?
Produces chronic inflammation and thickening of the synovial membrane of joints
T or F?
RA can often cause sx’s of chronic illness by affecting the blood vessels, heart, and lung
True
What are some other conditions that RA includes under its umbrella?
Juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis, and dermamyositis
T or f?
The pathophysiology of RA is not fully understood
True
How does RA being?
Begins as a state of persistent cellular activation, leading to autoimmunity and immune complexes in joints and other organs
Where is the initial disease site of RA? What happens there?
Synovial membrane (synovitis) - swelling and congestion results in immune cells coming in, leading to pain, stiffness, and limited ROM. Synovitis leads to hypertrophy and excessive synovial fluid
What is the vascular granulation tissue called that dissolves collagen as it extends over the articular cartilage, destroying joint tissues?
Pannus - the dissolved cartilage can lead to adhesions, fibrosis, or bony anklyosis (stiffness/fixation of jt)
What are the three phases of progression of RA and what are they caused by?
- Initiation phase - caused by non-specific inflammation
- Amplication phase - caused by T cell activation
- Chronic inflammatory phase - tissue injury occurs from cytokines, interleukins 1 and 6, and tumor necrosis factor - alpha
Ra is highest in women at what percent?
69%
What is the mean age of diagnosis of RA?
56 yo
In affected pts, RF is present in what percent of them?
66%
What percent of affected patients show evidence of erosions in the first year?
20%
What is the rate of people being diagnosed with RA in the US?
41 per 100,000 people
How many people are estimated to have RA in the US?
1.5 million
What provokes our immune system into action, causing it to respond directly or by production of antibodies?
Antigens
What makes RA an autoimmune disease?
People who have RA produce antibodies to fight their own antibodies like RF or ACPA
T or F? RA is believed to be hereditary and can be triggered by viral infections
True
What greater risk are you at if a first degree family member is diagnosed with RA?
4x higher risk of developing RA
What are some environmental factors that can predispose you to RA?
Chemicals, pollution, secondhand smoke, and trauma
In women, can hormonal changes trigger RA?
Yes
What is the most strongly associated risk factor of RA and by what % does it increase your risk?
Smoking increases risk of RA by 2. 4%
T or F?
RA produces no noticeable deformities and destruction of the MCP joints
False - there is noticeable deforming and destruction of the MCP joints
Where can nodules appear in the body?
Hands, feet, and elbow
What are some other sx’s that can occur with RA?
- Pleuritis: inflamed pleura layer of the lungs
- Anemia: when blood does not have enough healthy RBC’s (this is why CBC is a test for RA)
- Valvulitis: inflammation of valves of the heart
- Lung fibrosis: scarring of lungs causing SOB
- Kidney problems
- Cardiovascular problems
- Glaucoma: eye disease causing vision loss and blindness due to damage of optic nerve
What can happen with RA and the neck and spinal cord?
It can affect the neck and spinal cord causing damage, which can lead to paralysis or even death
Clinically, what are we going to see in an RA pt?
C/O fatigue and weight loss, symmetric joint swelling, pain, and stiffness (which is more prominent in the morning)
Between what ages of women is onset of disease highest?
20-40 yo
T or F? RA can produce spontaneous atlantoaxial subluxation due to laxity of ligaments and TMJ issues
TRUE - don’t have RA pt’s be jumping or intensely running, bobbing their head
Specifically in the hands, what can we see occur with RA?
- Ulnar drift of MCP’s
- Volar subluxation
- PiP swelling
Swan neck or Boutonniere deformity of fingers? PiP hyperextension and DiP flexion
Swan neck
Swan neck or Boutonniere deformity? DiP extension and PiP flexion
Boutonniere
How does mallet finger occur of the DiP joint occur?
The extensor digitorum tendon ruptures, pulling DiP into flexion
Rheumatoid nodules are present in what % of people with RA?
20-25%
What is the term for inflammation of lining of the sheath surrounding a tendon that can be found in a pt with RA?
Tenosynovitis
T or F?
Muscle atrophy doesn’t happen until later after diagnosis and is mostly in the knees and feet?
FALSE - muscle atrophy around affected joints can be present early and mostly in the intrinsic hand muscles and quads
Can pts with RA have a lot of de-conditioning that results in decreased cardiorespiratory status, muscle strength, and flexibility?
YES
When it comes to cardiopulmonary complications of pts with RA, what has greatest prevalence?
Ishemic heart disease (accelerated atherosclerosis)
What is first evaluated when trying to diagnose?
Causes of the arthritic sx’s. Rule out and test for things like lupus, cancer, scleroderma, hormone disorders, Sjorgen’s syndrome, etc
Can diagnosis of RA be based on family history, physical exam, and lab tests? What labs tests are done?
YES! RF is tested, CBC, ESR (which will be +), synovial fluid analysis, and serum protein electrophoresis
What is the prognosis of RA?
It is really poor because there is no way to reverse it. The damage cannot be undone, so the goal of treatment is to prevent further damage and manage the RA
What is our role in treating pt’s with RA?
- Joint function and muscle strength is priority!!!
- Low impact aerobic (conserve energy)
- Aquatic therapy (takes off stress of gravity on joints)
- Heat or ice packs and massage
- Assisting pt with maintaining strength, tone, and fitness
- Stretching, flexibility exercises, and strength training
- Minimize stiffness and swelling
- EDUCATE THEM!!
- Manage flare-ups
What 2 things are used for pain management of RA?
Anti-inflammatory meds and analgesics (pain-killers)
What are used in the short term for acute attacks of RA?
Corticosteroid