Rheumatology Flashcards
What is enthesitis? What can it be present in?
inflammation in area where tendon inserts into bone
seronegative spondyloarthropathy
name 3 clinical features of spondyloarthopathy:
- enthesitis
- positive family history
- uveitis
- asymettric arthritis
- postive response to NSAIDs
What are the posture changes with ankylosing spondylitis, what is the first line imaging? And 2nd line
- kyphosis
- loss lumbar lordosis
- compensatory extension of cervical spine
- question mark posture
- X-ray first line, then CT
Extra-axial clinical features of Ankylosing spondylitis?
- uveitis (acute anterior)
- cardiac involvement (A. regurg., AV block, LBBB)
- pulmonary fibrosis (mainly apical)
The modified new york criteria is used for ank spond. diagnosis, name 2+ of the criteria:
- low back pain of 3months+ duration
- limitation of lumbar spinal motion in sagittal and frontal planes
- decreased chest expansion (<5cm)
- sacroiliitis
What is a Romanus lesion in the context of ank spond.?
What is the name for a lesion from calcification of the spinal ligaments?
- early erosive spinal disease (looks like bite taken out of vertebra)
- syndesmophytes
Name 4 spondyloarthropathies that are associated to 4 HLA B27 :
- ank spond
- reactive arthritis
- juvenile spondyloarthropathy
- enteropathic spondyloarthritis (joint involvement in IBD)
- psoriatic spondyloarthritis
- ant. uveitis
- aortic incompetence with heart block
How much of the general healthy population are HLAB27 postitve (to bear in mind)
8%
-also not all pts with spondyloarthropathies will be +
Name 3 treatments for ank spond
- physio home exercises
- NSAIDS
- sulfasalazine, methotrexate
- biologics e.g. anti TNF, anti IL-17, IL-12. 23
psoriatic arthritis affects people at what age? Are they likely to have skin disease at onset?
- age of onset 30-50yrs
- 2/3rs have skin disease first (scalp and nail disease are important to look for as well as rash)
What the rash keratoderma blenorrhagicum seen in? What is the triad in this condition?
-rash over soles of feet
-in reactive arthritis
(arthritis, conjunctivitis, urethritis)
Name some possible arthritis patterns in psoriatic arthritis:
- DIP involvement with dactylitis and nail dystrophy
- arthritis mutilans (progressive bone erosion and collapse of soft tissues)
- symmetrical polyarticular
- spondyloarthritis
- asymmetric oligoarthritis (larger joints)
Name 3 medications used in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis:
- analgesics. NSAIDs
- sulfasalazine
- methotrexate
- azathioprine
- cyclosporin
- biologics, anti-TNF, anti IL-17/IL-12,23 agents
Name 3 aetiologies of inflammatory arthritis:
- autoimmune
- crystal
- pathogen (Septic)
Name 3 changes in the synovium (tissue lining joints in inflammatory arthritis:
- hyperaemia of blood vessels
- angiogenesis
- synovial hypertrophy
- inflammatory cells infiltrate with release of cytokines (t b cells, mo)
- formation of a “pannus” -invading eroding synovium into bone and cartilage damaging joints
- vascular villi
RA is an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, the immune dysregulation leads to synovial ___ & ___ cell infiltration and excessive cytokine release e.g. __ _ __, ______ activation and release of ___ leads to destruction of bone and cartilage
- vascularity & hypertrophy
- TNFa. IL-6, IL-7
- activation of osteoclasts (breaks down bone) and MMP release damages cartilage
In a history characteristic of inflammatory arthritis, the stiffness/joint pain is
- worse with ___
- e.g. difficulty ..
- better with ___ e.g.
- joint ___ e.g.
- pain med __
- worse with rest
e. g. early morning stiffness >30mins, sleep disturbance, difficult getting out chair - better w activity (e.g. ok once i get going)
- joint swelling e.g. rings tight
- NSAIDs work well
In an exam characteristic of inflammatory arthritis, the findings include:
- tender joints
- synovial swelling
- synovial effusion
- bone e.g osteophytes
- characteristic patterns/distribution
- tophi, nodules, rashes..
RA may be positive for __ and ___
RF and anti-CCP
Name 2 conditions in which ANA is often positive
lupus
sjogren’s
scleroderma
Suggest some investigations in a pt presenting with suspected inflammatory arthritis:
- FBC, CRP, ESR (inflamm check), +/- ferritin, alk phos
- LFT and U&Es (to check what meds can be given)
- autoantibodies (RF, anti-CCP, ANA, if ANA positive do subset based on ddx e.g. ds-DNA-lupus, anti-ro anti-la sjogren’s)
- US (synovial swelling confirmation and increased vascularity on dopplers)
- X-rays to look for erosions
- aspiration of effusion for mc&S
Autoimmune causes of arthritis: name 3
- RA
- Psoriatic arthritis
- reactive arthritis
- CT disease: SLE/Sjogren’s
Rheumatoid arthritis RFs/triggers
- HLA-subtypes (Ask family hx of autoimmune conditions)
- smokers
- chronic periodontal disease (Porforimonis gingivalis causative organism-leads to higher levels of citrilination)
- specific antibodies: RF, anti-CCP
RA affects which joints/distribution?
- peripheral (DIP not affected)
- tends to be symmetrical
- mainly affected: wrists, MCP, PIP, MTP, shoulder and knees
- ask re neck symptoms as risk of atlanto-axial subluxation
Extra-axial manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis:
- tendon sheaths
- nodules
- eye: conjunctivitis, scleritis, dryness (+/- secondary Sjogren’s)
- rare: felty’s syndrome: neutropenia + splenomegaly
what are poor prognostic factors in rheumatoid arthrits:
- large no joints affected
- RF strong positive
- anti-CPP +
- smoker
- early erosions
- high disability score
RA inflammation chronically impacts what system? Leading to high mortality from what? Therefore control of traditional risk factors should be to what range of targets?
- cardiovascular
- 3x increase in heart attack/stroke risk (x50 increase risk in lupus!)
- control to “diabetic targets” e.g. BP <130/80, LDL <2.6
RA treatment comprises of fast acting ____ acutely and starting 2 agents of DMARS that take 12+ weeks to kick in, examples include:
Name 3 biologics
- cortiosteroids (IM)
- methotrexate, sulphasalazine, hydrozychloriquine, lefunomide (can cause HT and eye disease)
- monitor blood tests regularly
- biologics: anti-TNF, anti IL-6, B cell and T cell inhibitors and JAK stat inhibitors
Name a medication of the following classes:
- Anti TNF agents
- Anti IL-6
- Anti B cell
- T cell co-stimulation inhibitor
TNF: adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab, golimumab, inflixumab
- anti IL-6: tocilizumab
- anti B cell: rituximab
- T cell inhibitor: abatacept
what 3 fts alert you to refer a pt with suspected RA urgently for specialist rx?
- small joints of hands/feet affected
- more than 1 joint affected
- delay of >3months between symptom onset and seeking medical advice
Sjogren’s is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder, where does it primarily affect? What does sicca symptoms entail?
- exocrine glands: salivary, lacrimal, bronchial, vaginal, pancreatic, colonic
- sicca=dry eyes, dry mouth
Sjogren’s is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder, what symptoms can it present with excluding gland related?
- fatigue
- inflammatory arthlalgia
- tubulointerstitial nephritis leading to renal tubular acidosis
- sensorimotor neuropathy
- hypergammaglobulinaemia - raised ESR (normal CRP) do serum electrophoresis
Sjogren’s is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder, it is associated with an increased risk of what cancer? Where does this often happen?
- lymphome (B cell non-hodgkins)
- parotid and submandibular gland most common
- so test immunoglobulins annually and investigate gland lumps
Sjogren’s is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder, if ANA is positive, what would you test for next if suspecting this dx? If these are present in pregnant women and the Igs cross the placenta what is the risk to fetus?
- anti Ro
- anti La
- complete heart block to fetus
raised ESR with normal CRP ddx: give 3
- sjogren’s
- lupus
- myeloma
name some treatment used for sjogren’s
- artificial saliva
- lubricant eye drops
- hydroxychloroquine for arthralgia
acute knee swelling in 75yo male, give 3 ddx:
- acute OA
- gout
- pseudogout
- septic arthritis
acute knee swelling ddx:
-acute OA, gout, pseudogout, septic arthritis, what investigations would be done?
- aspirate for gram stain and culture
- send for cytology analysis to visualise urate crystal or calcium pyrophosphate crystals (pseudogout)
what are the 3 principles of management of an acute monoarthritis (emergency):
- prompt diagnosis, early aspiration (more chance to identify pathogen)
- adequate drainage of joint (if builds up can affect function then mobility risk of muscle loss and poor rehab)
- immediate antimicrobials if septic arthritis suspected (e.g. fever, raised WCC and CRP) follow guidelines
Effects of NSAIDs in gut:
- more prostoglandin release
- these affect the gastric mucosa epithelium
- gastric erosions and effects blood vessels in gut
- so prescribe NSAIDs with PPI
Name 3 non- cox-2 selective NSAIDS
- ibroprofen
- naproxen
- diclofenac
- indomethacin