Rheumatoid Arthritis Flashcards
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic systemic autoimmune disorder
How is rheumatoid arthritis described?
- Inflammation in connective tissues, primarily in joints
- Course and severity variable
- Most prevalent inflammatory arthritis
- Chronic pain, alterations in body image
What are transformed antibodies called?
Rheumatoid factors
Normal antibodies become what in rheumatoid arthritis?
Autoantibodies
In rheumatoid arthritis- leukocytes become attracted to what?
Synovial membrane
In rheumatoid arthritis- what ingests the immune complex to release enzymes?
Neutrophils and macrophages
What type of immune response occurs in a generally susceptible host resulting in rheumatoid arthritis?
Aberrant
The inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis causes what?
- Hemorrhage
- Coagulation
- Fibrin deposits on synovial membrane
The formation of pannus tissue results in an abnormal what?
Tissue layer within synovial membrane
The formation of pannus tissue leads to what?
- Greater loss of bone and cartilage
- Scar formation
What is the most common form of arthritis in older adults?
osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects which gender more?
Women
What is the typical age for onset of rheumatoid arthritis?
Between 40 to 60 years of age
Remissions of rheumatoid arthritis most likely occur when?
In the first year of the disease
What is the cause of Rheumatoid arthritis?
It is unknown
What are the risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Family history
- Female sex
- Obesity
- Heavy smokers- can be reduced if you stop
What are the clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Joint deformity
- Redness, warmth, pain, swelling of affected sites
What are the clinical manifestations of the active phase of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Fever
- Anorexia
- Fatigue
What can be said about the stiffness a patient will experience when they have rheumatoid arthritis?
- More pronounced in morning, lasting more than 1 hour
- May occur with prolonged rest during the day
- May be more severe after strenuous activity
What are the five ways that the onset of joint issues in rheumatoid arthritis can be described?
- Usually insidious with stiffness
- May be acute, precipitated by stressor
- May be preceded by systemic manifestations of inflammation
- Polyarticular, symmetrical
- Rate of development can fluctuate
What are the three types of joint manifestations in the hands and fingers due to rheumatoid arthritis?
- Ulnar deviation
- Boutonniere deformity
- Swan neck deformity
What types of joint manifestations of the knee occur due to rheumatoid arthritis?
- Visible swelling
- Instability
- Quadriceps atrophy
In rheumatoid arthritis patients what is a nearly universal joint manifestation?
Wrist involvement
What happens to the spine if you have rheumatoid arthritis?
- Usually limited to cervical vertebrae
- Neurological complications
What kinds of deformities occur in the feet and ankles of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis?
- Subluxation
- Hallux valgus
- Lateral deviation of toes
In a patient with rheumatoid arthritis what causes their ambulation to be limited?
Due to pain especially in ankles and feet
What are the extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Systemic disease
- Anemia of chronic disease
- Skeletal muscle atrophy
- Rheumatoid nodules
What is the issue with anemia caused by rheumatoid arthritis?
Its resistant to iron therapy
What two syndrome’s a systemic affect of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Raynaud’s syndrome
What are the seven systemic affects of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Fever, weight loss, fatigue
- Lymph node enlargements
- Arteritis
- Neuropathy
- Scleritis
- Pericarditis
- Splenomegaly
Why would a patient with rheumatoid arthritis be at an increased risk of coronary heart disease?
It has a direct effect on blood vessels and the medications these patients take have damaging side effects on the heart.
What are patients with rheumatoid arthritis at an increased risk for that also increases their risk of coronary heart disease?
- Low HDL levels
- High cholesterol and triglycerides
- Hypertension
- High homocysteine levels
What is Juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
A chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis but diagnosed in children.
What is Juvenile idiopathic arthritis characterized by?
Chronic or remittent joint inflammation, swelling, and pain
What is the treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis similar to?
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is more prevalent in what gender?
female
What are the complications associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
- Eye chronic uveitis
- Interference with normal growth
- Bone growth disturbances
What is the main goal for rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
Relieve manifestations
What are the interdisciplinary approaches for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Balance of rest and exercise
- Physical therapy
- Suppression of inflammatory processes
What type of fluid needs to be examined to diagnose a patient with rheumatoid arthritis?
the synovial fluid