Rheumatoid Arthritis Flashcards
what is the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis?
> chronic infection
cigarette smoking
genetic
what is the spectrum of rheumatoid arthritis?
> connective tissue disease
seronegative arthritis
crystal arthritis
systemic vasculitis
what is rheumatoid arthritis?
chronic autoimmune systemic illness characterised by a symmetrical peripheral arthritis
what is RA associated with?
> premature death
disability
premature mortality
what is the pathogenesis of RA?
> inflamed synovial membrane
cartilage thinning
synovial fluid with neutrophil as the major cells type
pannus
- major cell type t cells and macrophages
- minor cell type fibroblasts and plasma cells
what is the male to female ratio for RA?
1:3
what is the average age of onset in RA?
4/5th decade
what are the symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis?
> poor function > immobility > stiffness > pain > long term - malignancy - cvs > non specific - fatigue - weight loss - anaemia
what signs are there in RA?
> tenderness > swelling > limit of movement > nodules > (heat and redness)
what investigations are carried out in RA?
> immunology
- rheumatoid factor IgM and IgG
- anticyclic citrullinated antibodies
xray (normal in early disease)
how is rheumatoid arthritis assessed?
> disease activity score (DAS 28)
a DAS 28 score of less than 2.4 indicates what?
disease remission
a DAS 28 score of more than 5.1 indicates what?
eligible for biologic therapy
what management options are there for RA?
> NSAIDs
disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
biologics
corticosteroids
give some examples of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs
> METHOTREXATE
sulfasalazine
hydroxychloroquine
leflunomide
