RA Flashcards
3 defining characteristics of RA (and other autoimmune like lupus)
- Chronic = long-lasting
- Progressive = worsens over time
- Systemic = affects the whole body
patho of RA
The body forms Rheumatoid factors (RF’s), autoantibodies, that attack healthy tissue
Especially like to attack the synovium –> INFLAMMATION, thickening
RA primarily effects what part of the joint?
synovial joints
RA has periods of ____ and _____
remission and exacerbation
early vs late stages of RA
early = prevent debilitating effects late = bone fusion, loss of function
does RA effect joints symetrically or asymmetrically?
symmetrically
Where else can inflammation occur with RA?
Systemic:
Inflammation can occur in other body parts where there is connective tissue
- Eyes
- Heart
- Lungs
- Vessels
- Muscle and nerves
symptom onset for RA
Rapid and acute or progressive and slow onset
-Onset more commonly occurs in the winter
-Vague symptoms may precede other symptoms (weeks to months)
Weakness
Fatigue
Weight loss
Low-grade fever
-Symptoms of joint inflammation
early presentation of RA
-Upper extremity joints are more commonly affected
Proximal interphalangeal joints
Metacarpophalangeal joints
-Slightly reddened, warm, tender, swollen, stiff
-Bilateral and symmetric
-Migratory arthritis in early disease
late presentation of RA
-Joint inflammation worsens
-More joints become involved
-Gel Phenomenon: sitting for long period of time fluid becomes gel like in joints
-Joint effusions: extra fluid builds up in joint
-Fingers may appear spindle-like
-Muscle atrophy
-Decreases Range of Motion
-Most, if not all joints will become affected
TMJ- severe disease
Cervical joints
what is gel phenomenon?
sitting for long period of time = synovial fluid becomes gel like in joints
-late RA
what are joint effusions?
extra fluid builds up in joint
-late RA
If patient presents with one hot, swollen, painful joint, we should….
assume infection is present until we know otherwise
what are bakers cysts?
- Enlarged popliteal bursae, develop behind knee
- Fluid filled cyst
- RA likely cause –> take immune suppressing drug to treat
systemic assessment of RA
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- May occur as flare-ups/ AKA Exacerbations
- Presence of subcutaneous nodules
- Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels
- ->Organ Ischemia/ dysfunction
- ->Periungual lesions: lesions at the fingernails . increase periungual lesion = increase vasculitis
- Footdrop
- Paraesthesia
*all of these things are coming from inflammation of connective tissue
