Rheumatology Flashcards
Which HLA is associated with Behcets Syndrome?
HLA B51
Which age group is temporal arteritis most common in?
Only >50s
How does temporal arteritis present?
Headache
Temporal artery (palpable) + scalp tenderness
Jaw claudication (pain after 10-15th bite)
Amaurosis fugax/sudden blindness
Around 50% have symptoms of PMR also
Investigations for temporal arteritis?
Bloods - raised ESR/CRP
Temporal artery biopsy - may be normal d/t skip lesions
Temporal artery US - halo sign, as sensitive as biopsy but often not available
Management of temporal arteritis?
Steroids @ 40mg
If visual symptoms, @ 60mg or IV methylprednisolone
Treatment often continues for 1-2 years
Urgent ophthalmology review
There should be a dramatic response, if not consider other Dx
What is the biggest cause of morbidity in temporal arteritis?
Long-term steroid treatment so consider bisphosphonates/PPI
Demographic for PMR?
Age >50yrs, often women
Symptoms of PMR?
Subacute onset (<2 weeks) of bilateral aching -> Worse in morning, improves with activity
Tenderness and morning stiffness in shoulders and proximal limb muscles (NO weakness) +/- mild polyarthritis
Tenosynovitis
Low grade fever + fatigue + WL
Carpel tunnel syndrome (10%)
Temporal arteritis symptoms
Investigations for PMR?
Raised CRP +/- ESR
ALP raised in 30%
CK is normal
Management of PMR?
Prednisolone 15mg
Dramatic response
Continue for >2yrs + bisphosphonates/PPI
What is the pathophysiology of dermato/polymyositis?
capillary obliteration causes ischaemia and muscle infarction
Symptoms of dermato/polymyositis?
Progressive, symmetrical, proximal muscle weakness
Their bulk is greater than expected from weakness – important sign
Skin features (only in Dermatomyositis)
Photosensitive
Macular rash over back and shoulders – shawl distribution
Heliotrope rash – periorbital
Gottron’s sign – roughened red papules over extensor surfaces of fingers
Other - Raynaud’s, ILD, resp muscle weakness
Investigations for dermato/polymyositis?
Autoantibodies - o Anti-Jo1 (poly), anti-Mi-2 (derm), ANA (most sensitive, not specific)
Raised serum muscle enzymes - CK, aldolase
Muscle biopsy – shows muscle necrosis, phagocytosis of muscle fibres + inflam infiltrates
Screen for malignancy
Management of dermato/polymyositis?
Systemic steroids - prednisolone
Immunosuppressive drugs – methotrexate
<10% of cases are fatal
What is Langerhans cell histiocytosis?
Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare condition associated with the abnormal proliferation of histiocytes (phagocytic cell). It typically presents in childhood with bony lesions
Features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis?
bone pain, typically in the skull or proximal femur, cutaneous nodules, recurrent otitis media/mastoiditis
Diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis?
Electronmicroscopy - tennis racket-shaped Birbeck granules
Is RA more common in M or F?
Females >2:1
Which HLA is RA associated with?
HLA DR4 (main), also HLA DR1
What are the RFs for RA?
smoking + genetics (combination is v significant)
Joint presentation of RA?
Symmetrical, swollen, painful and stiff small joints of the hands, wrist and feet
• Worse in the morning
• Larger joints may become involved
• Does not affect DIP joints or spinal involvement
Fatigue, more likely to get carpel tunnel
Signs of deformity in RA?
Boutonniere deformity
Ulnar deviation of MCP joints
Swan-neck deformity of fingers
Z deformity of the thumb
Extra-articular presentation of RA?
Splenomegaly (+low WCC and RA = Felty’s syndrome)
Nodules - elbow, lung, heart valve, achilles tendon
Eye - episcleritis/scleritis
Lung - fibrosis, pleuritis, pleural effusion
What is RA a significant RF for?
CVS disease - many of RA patients are on NSAIDs (increased risk), more likely to be inactive (increased risk)
What investigation should you do prior to surgery for RA?
X-ray of cervical spine to check for atlantoaxial subluxation - impt for intubation
Autoantibodies for RA?
RhF +ve 70% (not specific, cheaper test than anti-CCP)
Anti-CCP 98% (also +ve up to 10yrs before getting RA)
Worse prognosis with +ve RhF and anti-CCP
XR findings in RA?
SOLE
Soft tissue swelling
Osteopaenia
Loss of joint space
Erosions
What advice should you give to women taken methotrexate who want to conceive?
methotrexate is not safe in pregnancy and needs to be stopped at least 6 months before conception
Which RA medications are safe in pregnancy?
sulfasalazine, azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine
If a patient has an allergy to aspirin, which DMARD medication should be avoided?
Sulfasalazine
- should also be cautious giving sulfasalazine to patients with G6PD
Which HLA is ank spon associated with?
HLA B27
Symptoms of ank spon?
Backache and stiffness
- worse after inactivity
- begins in lumbar region -> thoracic
- may develop question mark posture in longterm
Signs of ank spon?
Schober’s test - <5cm increase
Reduced lateral flexion
Chest expansion <5cm
7A’s of extra-articular features of ank spon?
- Atlanto-axial subluxation (C1 + C2 move out of shape)
- Anterior uveitis
- Apical lung fibrosis
- Aortic regurgitation
- Amyloidosis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Autoimmune bowel disease
Investigations in ank spon?
Raised ESR/CRP
Hypergammaglobulinaemia
XR:
Sacroiliac joints - erosion, sclerosis
Squaring of the lumbar spine - give bamboo spine (becomes osteoporotic and risk of microfractures on movement)
Syndesmophytes
Scoring systems in ank spon?
BASDAI (disease activity index)
BASFI (functional index)
Scores need to be >4 on 2 occasions 3 months apart despite NSAIDS
Management of ank spon?
General - patient education, stop smoking, exercise, PT
Therapy - NSAIDS for 3 months, local steroids (systemic steroids won’t help spine but may help surrounding features), Anti-TNF therapy
Which category of medication will not help in ank spon?
DMARDs
Male to Female ratio for Gout?
M:F 4:1
Cause of Gout?
Deposition of monosodium urate crystals in and near joints
Causes of increased crystal deposition in Gout?
Increased production – hereditary, leukaemia/lymphomas (tumour lysis syndrome), cytotoxic drugs, increased dietary purines
Impaired excretion - diuretics, CKD, alcohol excess (beer)
-> Diuretics may make your body fluid more concentrated (so higher conc of uric acid), some diuretics also impair the excretion of uric acid
What can precipitate Gout flare ups?
Trauma, surgery, starvation, infection or diuretics
RFs for Gout?
Male, meat + seafood (high in purines), alcohol, diuretics, obesity, HTN, coronary heart disease, DM, CKD, heart failure
Presentation of Gout?
Acute pain, swollen, hot, erythematous joint, reaching a peak after 6-12hrs
Often with fever + malaise
Primary site – MTP joint
Other sites – knee, midtarsal joints, wrists, ankles, small hand joints
What type of crystals will you see on polarised light microscopy following aspiration of a joint with Gout vs Pseudogout?
Crystals:
Strongly negatively birefringent needles = gout
Rhomboid positively birefringent = pseudogout
What happens to the urate levels in your body in Gout?
Serum urate - may be raised/normal, useful to see response to Tx
Urine uric acid - may be raised
XR findings in chronic Gout?
punched-out lesions may be seen, juxta-articular erosions
USS/CT/MRI findings in Gout?
can identify urate deposition, structural joint damage and joint inflammation
Management of Gout?
Untreated, resolves over 5-15 days
With treatment, lasts about 3-5 days
General - RICE, continue prophlaxis therapy
NSAIDs - 1st line
Colchicine - if NSAIDs poorly tolerated/HF/on anticoagulation
Steroids - useful if NSAIDs + Colchicine are CI
Prevention of Gout?
urate lowering therapy: allopurinol (do not start until after acute attack) or febuxostat (more potent and expensive)
Also lifestyle modifications
What is the main SE of colchicine?
Diarrhoea
Most common demographic in SLE?
F:M 9:1, commoner in Afro-Caribbean + Asians, age 20-40yrs
What may trigger SLE?
Infection, injury, stress, EBV, drug induced
Which drugs may cause drug-induced SLE and which Ab is it associated with?
SHIPP (Sulfonamide (abx), hydralazine (HF), isoniazid (TB), phenytoin (seizures), procainamide (arrhythmia))
Anti-histone Abs in 100%
Symptoms of SLE?
Discoid rash
Oral ulcers (usually painless)
Photosensitivity
ANA (>95%)
Malar rash (butterfly rash – occurs in 50%)
Immunological phenomenon (anti-smith, anti-dsDNA, anti-phospholipid, Ro, La)
NEurological (altered mental state, seizures, stroke, headache, depression)
Renal (persistent proteinuria/cell casts)
Arthralgia/non-erosive arthritis (occurs in 90%, involves 2+ peripheral joints)
Serositis (pleuritis/pericarditis)
Haematological (pancytopaenia)
Investigations for SLE?
3 best tests
1) Anti-dsDNA antibody titres
2) Complement: low C3+C4
3) raised ESR
Management of SLE?
Severe flares -> req urgent IV cyclophosphamide and high-dose prednisolone
Maintenance -> NSAIDs and hydroxychloroquine, low-dose steroids may be used if chronic
Cutaneous symptoms -> Topical steroids, suncream
Biologicals -> Target B cells with rituximab/belimumab
Lupus nephritis -> immunosuppression; steroids + cyclophosphamide/mycophenolate
Symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome?
Antiphospholipid Abs cause CLOTS:
Coagulation defect (arterial and venous thrombosis)
Livedo reticularis
Obstetric (recurrent miscarriages)
Thrombocytopaenia (decreased platelets)
Investigations of antiphospholipid syndrome?
Measure anti-phospholipid antibodies
o Lupus anticoagulant Ab
o Anticardiolipin Ab
Causes a paradoxical rise in APTT (measures the speed of clotting)
Who would you screen for anti-phospholipid syndrome?
<50 with stroke + woman with 3+ pregnancy losses before 10 weeks
Management of anti-phospholipid syndrome?
Healthy lifestyle advice
One VTE/arterial thrombosis: Warfarin lifelong (aim INR 2-3) Recurrent VTE (whilst on warfarin): Add in aspirin (aim INR 3-4)
Seek advice in pregnancy
Which features of SLE are less common in drug-induced lupus?
Renal and nervous system involvement
What are the classical features of raynauds disease vs phenomenon?
Raynaud’s disease typically presents in young women (e.g. 30 years old) with bilateral symptoms
Raynaud’s phenomenon (secondary causes):
connective tissue disorders
scleroderma (most common)
RA, SLE, leukaemia
type I cryoglobulinaemia, cold agglutinins
use of vibrating tools
drugs: oCP, ergot
cervical rib
How should you manage Raynaud’s?
Suspected secondary Raynaud’s -> referred to secondary care
first-line: CCB e.g. nifedipine
IV prostacyclin (epoprostenol) infusions: effects may last several weeks/months
What percentage of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthropathy?
10-20%
All patients with psoriasis should be offered an annual assessment
How can you differentiate between psoriatic arthritis and RA?
Psoriatic: DIP joints, no RF, no skin nodules
RA: MCP joints, RF in 70%, Skin nodules
What are the features of psoriatic arthritis?
Stiffness, swelling and pain in joints, ligaments and tendons
Arthritis is relapsing and remitting
Can be symmetrical polyarthritis/asymmetrical oligoarthritis, usually in hands and feet
Usually preceded by the rash by a few years
Nail changes in 80% – pitting, yellowing, onycholysis
Dactylitis
XR changes in psoriatic arthritis?
Unusual combination of coexistence of erosive changes and new bone formation
Periostitis
‘pencil-in-cup’ appearance
How do you treat psoriatic arthritis?
Same as for RA
• NSAIDs – to relieve MSK symptoms
• Corticosteroid injections
• DMARDs at an early stage – e.g. Methotrexate
• TNF-alpha inhibitors
What is the most common causative organism in septic arthritis in young sexually active people? vs most common organism overall?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
overall: Staphylococcus aureus
Treatment of septic arthritis?
IV flucloxacillin or clindamycin if penicillin allergic
For 6-12 weeks
How many people with reactive arthritis have HLA association?
HLA B27, 75%
What is the demographic for patients with reactive arthritis?
Young white adults
What causes reactive arthritis?
Occurs 1-4 weeks after either:
• GU infection from STI (e.g. chlamydia)
• GI infection (campylobacter, salmonella, shigella or Yersinia)
It may be chronic or relapsing
Which joints are affected in reactive arthritis and what are the other symptoms?
- Asymmetrical
- Lower extremities
- Oligoarthritic (usually no more than 6 joints)
“I knee’d to pee”
I = conjunctivitis/anterior uveitis
Knee’d = arthritis
Pee = urethritis
(organism is not present in arthrocentesis of joint)
May also see these skin changes: keratoderma blenorrhagica(waxy yellow/brown papules on palms and soles) Circinate balanitis (painless vesicles on the coronal margin of the prepuce)
Management of reactive arthritis?
No specific cure
Splint joints
NSAIDs or intra-articular steroid injections
Consider sulfasalazine or methotrexate if symptoms >6 months
Symptoms rarely last >12 months
Name a SE caused by hydroxychloroquine?
Bull’s-eye retinopathy
What is the pathophysiology of osteoporosis?
Skeletal disease characterised by:
- Low bone mass
- Microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue
- > increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture
Name of treatments that can be used for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates, HRT, Denosumab, Teriparatide, Ca + vit D
MOA/SEs of bisphosphonates?
MOA - decrease osteoclast activity, acts on the cholesterol synthesis pathway - inhibits the enzyme ‘Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase’
SEs - GI irritation (alendronate), sit up and take half an hour before food
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (rare)
HRT, MOA/SEs?
MOA - Decrease osteoclast activity
Benefits – reduce fractures, reduce risk of CC, prevent menopausal symptoms
Negatives – increase breast cancer risk, stroke, CVS disease, VTE
MOA/SEs of Denosumab?
MAb to RANK ligand, decreases osteoclast
Negative – rebound increase of bone turnover when stopped