Rheumatoid Arthritis Flashcards
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
An autoimmune condition leading to inappropriate immune system activity causing synovial and connective tissue inflammation (antibodies against self develop)
What is the progression in joint damage for patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic inflammation –> Growth of tissue (pannus) –> Loss of bone and cartilage (the body cannot replace bone and cartilage fast enough, so net loss)
What can trigger rheumatoid arthritis?
Triggered by genetics and by “stochastic” event (smoking is a common trigger, but triggers can be hard to definitively point out as a causative effect)
What are the consequences of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis?
Can happen within 1 year of onset of RA
- Loss of cartilage
- Formation of scar tissue
- Ligament laxity (they stretch out and no longer able to properly support joint)
- Tendon contractures (they shorten and become tight)
How many people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis?
Affects 1 to 2% of the adult population (more common in women 3:1)
Can occur at any age (most common age for diagnosis is between 30 and 50)
What is the clinical presentation of rheumatoid arthritis?
Symmetrical joint pain and stiffness (lasts longer than 6 weeks)
Muscle pain (early morning stiffness, resolves within 1 hour of waking)
Fatigue, low-grade fever, appetite decrease)
Joint tenderness with warmth and swelling over affected joints
Most commonly a rapid onset starting in peripheral joints
What joints are most likely to be affected by rheumatoid arthritis?
Wrists, nads, elbows, shoulders, knees, and ankles
Review slide 9 for differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Review slide 12 for the visual representation of the presentation of symptoms in the hands in each of the three stages of rheumatoid arthritis
What non-joint tissues are affected in rheumatoid arthritis?
- Blood vessels
- Lungs
- Eyes
- Heart
- Muscle
- Bone
- Skin
- Hematological abnormalities
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on blood vessels?
The autoimmune conditions starts impacting the vasculature (occurs with severe, and long-standing RA)
Can affect any blood vessel (especially those that supply/drain the skin and kidneys)
Treated with aggressive treatment of RA
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on the lungs?
Pleuritis, pleural effusion, fibrosis, pulmonary nodules
Drugs used to treat RA may also affect lung function (occasional X-ray is used to monitor condition and therapy)
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis in the eyes?
Episcleritis, scleritis, uvetis and iritis (can cause blindness, severity depends on layer affected)
Painful, visual acuity loss
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on the heart?
Pericarditis, myocarditis
Increase risk of CAD, HF, and AF
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on the muscles?
Generalized weakness and pain
From synovial inflammation, myositis, vasculitis
Steroid-induced
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on the bones?
Osteopenia is common
Local bone loss around affected joints
What is the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on the skin?
Rheumatoid nodules
Ulcers
Steroid-induced changes
How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?
Joint involvement
Lab test findings (rheumatoid factor, elevated ESR and CRP, anti-CCP)
Duration of symptoms
What are the goals of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis?
Prevent and control joint damage
Prevent loss of function
Maintain QoL
Decrease pain
Acheive remission or low disease activity (PtGA score below 2)
What are the general principles of management of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Early recognition and diagnosis
- Early use of DMARDs (within 3 months of diagnosis)
- Tight control (treat until remission)
- Responsible NSAIDs and glucocorticoid use
What are some non-pharmacological therapies for rheumatoid arthritis?
- Patient education (goals of therapy, drug safety)
- Rest is important, but balance with activity (need to prevent muscle atrophy)
- Reduce joint stress with RA friendly tools (knee braces)
- Diet/weight loss
- Surgery (fairly complex, associated with complications)
What are the maintenance therapies for rheumatoid arthritis?
- Traditional DMARDs (still used commonly)
- Biologic DMARDs
- Synthetic DMARDs (rarely used)
What are the flare therapies for rheumatoid arthritis?
- Corticosteroids
- NSAIDs/Analgesics
- Combinations
What are some characteristics of traditional DMARDs?
- Slow onset of action
- Controls symptoms
- May delay or stop progression of disease
- Requires regular monitoring (especially Methotrexate)
What are some examples of traditional DMARDs?
Methotrexate
Sulfasalazine
Hydroxychloroquine
Leflunomide
What is the mechanism of action for Methotrexate?
Anti-folate (less DNA synthesis, repair, cellular replication and immune response)
Targets root cause (increases immunosuppression)
What is the mechanism of action for Sulfasalazine?
Prodrug (metabolized into 5-ASA and sulfapyridine)
Modulates mediators of inflammatory response (may inhibit TNF)
What is the mechanism of action for Hydroxychloroquine?
Inhibits neutrophils and chemotaxis (impairs complement system)
What is the mechanism of action for Leflunomide?
Inhibits pyrimidine synthesis, leading to anti-inflammatory effects
Modulates many signalling pathways
What is the onset of effect of traditional DMARDs?
Usually 1-3 months, with hydroxychloroquine taking longer (2-6 months)
What is the methotrexate dosing regimen for rheumatoid arthritis?
Methotrexate 7.5 to 25mg PO weekly
Titrate to target dose (2.5 to 5mg/week increase to at least 15-25mg)
What is the renal dosing for methotrexate?
For eGFR between 10-50mL/min, reduce doses by 50%
Review slide 28 for dosing of traditional DMARDs
What are some commonly experienced side effects associated with Methotrexate?
Nausea
Fatigue
Stomatitis
Photosensitivity
Hair loss
Skin itch/burning/rash
What are some strategies to manage side effects associated with methotrexate use?
A PPI can be given 3 days around methotrexate doses to limit some GI effects
Folic acid can be given to help with methotrexate side effects (1 to 5mg/week)
Methotrexate doses can be split to help with side effects (reduced Gi and muscle fatigue)
What is a serious side effect associated with Hydroxychloroquine?
Ocular toxicity (usually after 1000g lifetime dose has been administered, usually achieved after 5 years of regular use)
What is a serious side effect associated with Methotrexate use?
Pulmonary toxicity (get lung function test to determine baseline)
What are the contraindications associated with hydroxychloroquine?
Pre-existing retinopathy
What are some contraindications for sulfasalazine use?
Hypersensitivity to salicylates or sulfonamides
Asthma attacks precipitated ASA or NSAIDs
Severe renal/hepatic impairment
Existing gastric or duodenal ulcer
What are some contraindications associated with Methotrexate?
- Severe hepatic function
- Severe hepatic impairment
- Current hematologic abnormalities
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding (Category X drug)
What are some contraindications associated with leflunomide?
Moderate-severe renal/hepatic impairment
Current hematological abnormalities or serious infection
Pregnancy/breastfeeding
What are some drug interactions associated with Methotrexate?
NSAIDs (decreased clearance of methotrexate, increased toxicity potential. Only a concern at high doses 500-2000mg weekly)
TMX (methotrexate significantly increases risk of pancytopenia)
PPIs (only in methotrexate dose is above 500mg/week
Loop diuretics (likely only an issue with high methotrexate doses)
How is the efficacy of traditional DMARDs monitored?
- Disease (ESR, CRP) every 1 to 3 months initially
- Radiographs of affected joint every 6-12 months
- Patient assessment (Health Assessment Questionnaire, focus on functional status)
How is the safety of traditional DMARDs monitored?
Hydroxychloroquine (ophthalmic exam to measure ocular toxicity)
Sulfasalazine (CBC and LFTs, creatinine)
Methotrexate (CBCs and LFTs, creatinine & Chest X-rays)
Leflunomide (CBCs and LFTs, creatinine)
Rank traditional DMARDs by potency from highest to lowest
Methotrexate=Leflunomide>Sulfasalazine>Hydrochloroquine
What is the role of hydroxychloroquine in rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
- Useful for early, mild RA
- Best tolerated of the DMARDs
What is the role of sulfasalazine in rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
- Use if other options not tolerated
- Combined with other DMARDs (monotherapy rare)
What is the role of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
- Highly effective in moderate-severe disease
- Standard therapy (should be used in all RA patients)
What is the role of leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
- Replacement for methotrexate if not tolerated
- May be added in low doses to methotrexate
What are the targets for biologic DMARDs?
Central to the RA inflammatory process, monocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts within the synovium, which produce cytokines
What are the main classes of biologic DMARDs?
- TNF-alpha inhibitors
- IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors
- T-Cell Co-stimulation inhibitors
- B-cell depletors