Rheum Flashcards
What XR changes are seen in OA?
LOSS
- Loss of joint space
- Osteophytes
- Subchondral sclerosis (increased density along joint line)
- Subchondral cysts (fluid filled holes in the bones)
What hand signs suggest OA?
- Heberden’s nodes (DIP joints)
- Bouchard’s nodes (PIP joints)
- Squaring of base of thumb at carbo-metacarpal joint
What is the stepwise management of OA?
- Lifestyle changes and physiotherapy
- Oral paracetamol + topical NSAIDs
- Add oral NSAIDs + PPI
- Intra-articular steroid injections
- Joint replacement
What happens in RA?
Chronic inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa
How do patients with RA present?
- Symmetrical distal polyarthropathy
- Pain and stiffness in small joints
- Pain improves with activity
- Pain worse in the morning
- Systemic symptoms - fatigue, wt loss, flu like illness
What joints are rarely affected by RA?
DIP joints
What hand signs suggest RA?
- Z shaped deformity to the thumb
- Swan neck deformity
- Boutonnieres deformity (opposite of swan neck)
- Ulnar deviation of the fingers at the MCP
How do you investigate RA?
- Check RF
- If ^ negative check anti-CCP antibodies (more sensitive and specific)
- Inflammatory markers
- XR hands and feet
What XR changes are seen in RA?
- Joint destruction and deformity
- Soft tissue swelling
- Periarticular osteopenia
- Boney erosions
What is the stepwise management of RA?
Manage acute flare with short course of steriods
- NSAIDS + PPI
- Monotherapy with DMARD (methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine)
- 2 DMARDs in conjunction
- Methotrexate + biological therapy (TNF inhibitors)
What do you need to consider when prescribing TNF inhibitors?
- Lead to immunosuppression to patients are prone to serious infections
- Can lead to reactivation of dormant infections e.g. TB, hep B
What are notable side effects of methotrexate?
- Bone marrow suppression
- Leukopenia
- Teratogenic
- Mouth ulcers
What needs to be prescribed with methotrexate?
- Folic acid 5mg
- Needs to be taken on different day to methotrexate
What needs to be prescribed with methotrexate?
- Folic acid 5mg
- Needs to be taken on different day to methotrexate
What happens in gout?
Chronically high blood uric acid levels -> urate crystals deposited into joints
What joints are most affected in gout?
- Base of big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint)
- Wrists
- Base of thumb (carpometacarpal joints)
What are gouty tophi? Where are they found?
- SC deposits of uric acid
- Small joint and connective tissue of the hands, elbows and ears
- DIP most common site
What will joint aspiration show in gout?
- Needle shaped crystals
- Negatively birefringent
- Monosodium urate crystals
What will joint XR show in gout?
- Joint spaces maintained
- Lytic lesions
- Punched out erosions with sclerotic boarders and overhanging edges
What is the stepwise management of an acute gout flare?
- NSAIDS
- Colchicine
- Steroids
When are NSAIDs contraindicated for acute gout?
In patients with renal impairment or significant heart disease
What is a side effect of colchicine?
GI upset -> diarrhoea
What is used for gout prophylaxis? How does it work? What is key when initiating it?
- Allopurinol
- Xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces uric acid levels
- Don’t initiate until after the acute attack is settled
What is pseudogout caused by?
Calcium pyrophosphate crystals
What joints are commonly affected in pseudogout?
- Knee
- Shoulders
- Wrists
- Hips