Rheumatoid Arthritis

Question 1

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 1

systematic inflammatory autoimmune disease

Question 2

What attacks the synovial membrane in Rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 2

misguided antibody known as rheumatoid factor

Question 3

What does the misguided antibody ( rheumatoid factor) in rheumatoid arthritis affect”?

Answer 3

syn mem
art cart
fibrous joint capsule surrounding ligaments

Question 4

who is affected by rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 4

1. affects 1-2 % adults

2. more frequent in female 3:1

Question 5

What accumulates in synovial fluid by rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 5

inflammatory cells

Question 6

what happens when inflammatory cells accumulate in synovial fluid in the case of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 6

1. SM thickens and puts pressure on vessels which leads to focal hypoxia and metabolic acidosis
2. stimulates enzymes that degrade the articular cartilage
3. increases inflammation in surrounding ligaments and tendons
4. pannus formation: ( scar tissue over denuded area f synovial membrane)

Question 7

how does rheumatoid arthritis develop?

Answer 7

tend to dev symetrically

Question 8

joints commonly affected by rheumatoiud arthritis?

Answer 8

fingers and feet
wrist and wlbows
ankles and knees
shoulders, hips, cervical spine may also be involved as well as tissue of ligs, hearts, kidneys and skin

Question 9

evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis?>

Answer 9

physical examination
xray
serelogic tests for RF and circulating immune complexes

Question 10

American college of rheumatology diagnostic criteria is

Answer 10

NEED 4 OR MORE

1. morning stiffness > 1 hr
2. arthritis of > 3 joint areas
3. arthritis of hand joints
4. rheumatoid nodules
5. serum RF present in abnormal amounts
6. radiographic changes

Question 11

TM for rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 11

1. rest, use of hot and cold packs, phys therapy, antineoplastic med, a diet high in calories and vit, corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressents and disease modifying anti rheumic drugs
2. surgical synovectomy, may be done early in disease to decrease inflammation effusion and remove pannus
3. interm/late stage: to correct deformity or mechanical deficiency. surgery= arthrodesis ( fusion bone), anthroplasty ( repair joints), joint replacement