Rheumatology Flashcards
Describe the term Seropositive Inflammatory Arthritis.
Umbrella term for joint inflammation caused by autoantibodies e.g. RA (anti-CCP and RF), SLE (ANA, dsDNA, Anti-Sm, Anti-Ro, Anti-SRP), Scleroderma (anti-Scl70 + anti-centromere), Sjogren’s (Anti-La + Anti-Ro) and Dermatomyositis (anti-Jo)
Positive Anti-CCP is seen in what condition?
RA
Positive dsDNA is seen in what condition?
SLE
Positive Anti-SM is seen in what condition?
SLE
Positive anti-Ro is seen in what condition?
SLE; Sjogren’s
Positive anti-La is seen in what condition?
Sjogrens
Anti-centromere Abs being positive is suggestive of what condition?
Systemic sclerosis (limited)
Anti-Scl70 Ab being positive is indicative of what condition?
Systemic sclerosis (diffuse)
What does anti-Jo1 Ab suggest?
Myositis
What does positive Anti-cardiolupin Ab suggest?
Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome
What does positive Lupus anticoagulant suggest?
Anti-phospholipid syndrome
What does positive Lupus anticoagulant suggest?
Anti-phospholipid syndrome
What is the difference between cANCA and pANCA?
Two types of ANCA, each target a different protein within the cytoplasm of neutrophils and monocytes.
pANCA targets MPO
cANCA targets PR3
What group of conditions are present if ANCA Abs are present?
Small vessel vasculitis (GPA; EGPA; MPA)
State 3 RFs for SLE.
- Female sex
- Young onset: 15-45 years
- Drugs: Procainamide/Sulfasalazine/Isoniazid/ Phenytoin/ Carbamazepine
- Infection: EBV
How may Lupus present?
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
Skin • Butterfly rash: cheeks + bridge of nose • Vasculitic lesions • Urticaria • Photosensitivity • Alopecia
Nervous system • Epilepsy • Migraine • Cerebellar ataxia • CN lesions • Polyneuropathy
Lungs
• Pleurisy/ pleural effusion
CV • Pericarditis/ Pericardial effusion • Myocarditis • Thrombosis • Atherosclerosis
GI • Abdominal pain • Vomiting • Diarrhoea • Dysphagia • Mesenteric vasculitis
Kidneys
• Glomerulonephritis
What skin lesion is typically present in Lupus?
Butterfly rash on cheeks and nasal bridge. Rash is photosensitive.
Urticaria
Vasculitis lesions
Alopecia
What blood test(s) are clinically suggestive of SLE?
• Antibodies: Anti-dsDNA; ANA; Anti-Ro; Anti-La and Anti-RNP may be seen in SLE
How do you treat SLE with joint symptoms and systemic disease?
• Anti-malarial: Hydroxychloroquine \+ • NSAIDs: Ibuprofen/Naproxen \+ • Corticosteroids: Prednisolone
± (Systemic disease)
• Immunosuppressants: Azathioprine/ Mycophenolate mofetil
How would you treat SLE which causes severe organ disease?
Severe Organ Disease
• IV Steroids
+
• Cyclophosphamide
and seek help from HDU
Describe Sjogrens syndrome.
Autoimmune disease featuring immunologically mediated destruction of epithelial exocrine glands via lymphocytic infiltration which also causes polyarthritis. Sjogrens syndrome may be primary or secondary to another autoimmune disorder – SLE, RA.
How may Sjogrens syndrome present?
- Dryness of the mouth (xerostomia)
- Dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
- Parotid gland swelling (parotitis)
- Arthralgia and fatigue
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon
- Angular stomatitis may occur
What are the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome?
4 or more of:
• Ocular symptoms- dry eyes > 3 months (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), foreign body sensation, use of tear substitutes > 3 x daily
• Ocular signs- Schirmer’s test performed without anaesthesia (essentially see how wet some filter paper gets)
• Oral symptoms-dry mouth, recurrently swollen salivary glands, liquids aids used to swallow
• Oral signs- abnormal salivary scintigraphy
• Autoantibodies: Anti-Ro or Anti La antibodies
Mnemonic: Eyes, (Anti-)Ros and Mouth
What are the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome?
4 or more of:
• Ocular symptoms- dry eyes > 3 months (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), foreign body sensation, use of tear substitutes > 3 x daily
• Ocular signs- Schirmer’s test performed without anaesthesia (essentially see how wet some filter paper gets)
• Oral symptoms-dry mouth, recurrently swollen salivary glands, liquids aids used to swallow
• Oral signs- abnormal salivary scintigraphy
• Autoantibodies: Anti-Ro or Anti La antibodies
Mnemonic: Eyes, (Anti-)Ros and Mouth
State the name of the test for eye dryness in Sjogrens syndrome.
Schirmer test
What does a Schirmer test consist of?
Schirmer’s test performed without anaesthesia (essentially see how wet some filter paper gets)
Filter paper placed in lower conjunctival sac with positive being < 5mm
How do you manage Sjogrens syndrome?
- Artificial tears/lubricating eye drops
- Pilocarpine- can stimulate salivary gland production (however also produces flushing)
- Hydroxychloroquine can help with arthralgia and fatigue
What are the side effects of Pilocarpine?
Cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent thus SLUDGE
Sweating Lacrimation Urinary disorders Defaecation GI upset Emesis
Flushing of skin
Describe Scleroderma.
Autoimmune disorder which affects multiple systems involving the activation of immune system featuring upregulation of adhesion molecules (VCAM, E-selectin, ICAM-1) which stimulates production of ECM via fibroblasts yielding abnormal connective tissue growth.
What type of molecules are upregulated in systemic sclerosis?
Upregulation of adhesion molecules - VCAM, E-selectin, ICAM-1 thus ECM production via fibroblasts
What are the two types of Scleroderma?
- Limited: Begins in hands, fingers, face and progresses to body (Anti-Centromere)
- Diffuse: Less common but more aggressive; earlier organ involvement with arthralgia and myalgia occurring as well as pulmonary disease and cardiac disease (Anti-Scl70)
What are the pentad of features in Limited Systemic Sclerosis?
CREST
Calcinosis cutis
Raynaud’s
Oesophageal dysmotility
Sclerodactyly
Telangiectasia
What symptoms may be present in diffuse scleroderma (in addition to limited scleroderma)?
Diffuse Scleroderma
• Cough
• SOBE
• Rales at lung bases
- Dysphagia
- Heartburn/Reflux
- Bloating
- Malabsorption
- Bowel dysmotility
- Esophageal dysmotility
- Arthralgia
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Myositis
What investigation may confirm oesophageal dysmotility in Systemic Sclerosis?
• Barium swallow: Reduced peristalsis; Gastroparesis; Reduced sphincter tones; Strictures
What investigation may confirm thoracic involvement in Systemic Sclerosis?
• CXR: Interstitial infiltrates; Cardiomegaly
What autoantibodies will be positive in Systemic Sclerosis?
• Serum auto-antibodies: ANA; Anti-Scl70 (anti-topoisomerase I) positive = diffuse; Anticentromere Ab positive = limited
How would you manage Systemic Sclerosis?
Tx dependent on Sx and Organ involvement
Renal Crisis
• ACEi: Captopril/ Enalapril/ Lisinopril
+
• Antihypertensives: CCBs (Lercanidipine)
2nd
• RRT: Dialysis or Transplant
Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Supportive: Exercise/Warmth
+
• CCB: Nifedipine
± (Ulcers)
• PDE5: Sildenafil
GI
• PPI: Omeprazole/ Esomeprazole
± (Gastroparesis)
• Prokinetic agent: Domperidone/ Octreotide
Myopathy/ Synovitis/ Arthritis
• Oral corticosteroid: Prednisolone
Interstitial lung disease • Immunomodulator: Cyclophosphamide/Mycophenolate mofetil/Azathioprine \+ • Oral corticosteroid: Prednisolone \+ • Oxygen
Cardiac arrhythmia
• Antiarrhythmics
How may you medically treat Raynaud’s Phenomenon?
Nifedipine
Sildenafil
How may you manage ILD in Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis?
• Immunomodulator: Cyclophosphamide/Mycophenolate mofetil/Azathioprine \+ • Oral corticosteroid: Prednisolone \+ • Oxygen
Describe Antiphospholipid Syndrome.
Autoimmune disease caused by antibodies targeting the phospholipid cell membrane which causes arterial and venous thrombosis. This can be primary or secondary to other immune disorders.
How may Antiphospholipid Syndrome present?
- Stroke
- TIA
- MI
- Valvular heart disease
- DVT
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome (occlusion of hepatic veins ascites, abdo pain + hepatitis)
• Recurrent miscarriages = 3≤
What is the triad of clinical features observed in Budd-Chiari Syndrome?
Ascites
Abdominal Pain
Hepatomegaly
What would bloods show in a patient with Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome?
• APTT: Increased
• FBC: Thrombocytopenia
• Antibodies: Anti-cardiolipin; Lupus anticoagulant (LA)
-> LA is an autoimmune phospholipid antibody
Which clotting pathway is increased in Anti-phospholipid syndrome?
What blood test reflects this?
Intrinsic
APTT thus problem with clotting factors 8, 9, 11 and 12
How do you manage a patient with Antiphospholipid Syndrome?
Aspirin 75mg
Warfarin
How do you manage Anti-phospholipid syndrome in a pregnant woman?
LMWH 1mg/kg (‘check BNF’)
Describe Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis.
Autoimmune disorder featuring necrosis of skeletal muscle fibres (polymyositis) and/or skin (dermatomyositis) which is of unknown aetiology (idiopathic) characterised by proximal muscle weakness, myalgia, dysphagia, SOB and Shawl sign (V-shaped superior truncal rash), Heliotrope rash (reddish purple rash around eyelids), Gottron’s papules (violaceous bumps on outside of joints)
What classic dermatological clinical features of Dermatomyositis are there?
Gottron’s papules
Shawl Sign
Heliotrope rash
What is the term for the rash around the eyes in Polydermatomyositis?
Heliotrope rash
What is the term for the V-shaped truncal rash in Polydermatomyositis?
Shawl sign
What is the term for violaceous bumps on the outside of the joints?
Gottron’s papules
What investigations would you run in a suspected case of polymyositis/dermatomyositis?
• Muscle biopsy: T-cell infiltration and necrosis
• Serum muscle enzymes (CK; ALT; aldolase): Elevated
• Abs: Anti-JO positive; ANA positive; anti-SRP positive
-> Antisynthetase Ab = Anti-Jo (Ab in polymyositis and ILD); Anti-signal recognition particle = Anti-SRP (present in necrotising myopathy)
• ESR: Normal; Raised
• EMG: characteristic changes
• MRI: Muscle inflammation
How do you treat an acute bout of Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis?
Oral corticosteroids: Prednisolone 1/12
Immunosuppressants: Azathioprine/ Methotrexate/ Ciclosporin
Describe Undifferentiated Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease.
Seropositive inflammatory arthritis which combines features of more than one arthritic rheumatoid disease.
What clinical feature is almost always present in Undifferentiated Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease?
Raynaud’s (90%)
Describe Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Chronic inflammatory condition affecting small joints of hands and feet which is characterised by joint pain, swelling and persistent morning swelling resulting in reduced mobility and reduced quality of life.
What finger swellings are more prevalent in RA? Which joint do these impact?
Bouchard’s Nodes
PIP
Which deformities may be present in RA? Describe the joints and the deformity in each example.
- Swan neck deformity: DIP hyperflexion + PIP hyperextension
- Boutonniere’s deformity: DIP hyperextension + PIP hyperflexion
Outline the clinical features of Felty’s Syndrome.
Splenomegaly
RA
Neutropenia
The presence of pneumoconiosis and RA is termed…
Caplan Syndrome
What investigations would you order in an individual with suspected RA?
- Rheumatoid factor (RF): Positive
- Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) Ab: Positive
- XR/CT: Erosions
How may you manage RA?
• DMARDs: Methotrexate/ Sulfasalazine/ Leflunomide
±
• Corticosteroid: Prednisolone
+
• NSAID: Ibuprofen/Naproxen/ Diclofenac
Pregnancy
• Corticosteroid: Prednisolone
Describe what a Seronegative Arthritis is.
Umbrella term for conditions associated with predilection for axial (spinal and sacroiliac) inflammation with asymmetrical peripheral arthritis, in the absence of antibodies (seronegative) with enthesis inflammation.
Describe ankylosing spondylitis.
Type of seronegative Spondyloarthritis which is a chronic, progressive disease characterised by severe pain, spinal stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, SI joint tenderness and kyphosis.
What is the term of the diagnostic criteria used in Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Calin Criteria
Outline the Calin Criteria.
- Age < 40 years
- Back pain > 3 months
- Insidious onset
- Improves with exercise
- Early morning stiffness
What gene mutation is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis?
HLA-B27
Outline the presentation of Ankylosing Spondylitis.
- Inflammatory back pain: Early morning back stiffness; improves with exercise; insidious onset; back pain > 3 months
- Fatigue
- SI joint tenderness
- Kyphosis:
- Enthesitis
- Iritis/Uveitis
What investigations would have positive findings in Ankylosing Spondylitis?
- CRP: Raised
- XR-Pelvis: Sacroiliitis
- XR-Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar spine (lateral): erosions; sclerosis; syndesmophytes; bamboo spine (late disease)
How would you manage Ankylosing Spondylitis?
• Supportive: Stretches/ Group sessions/ Assess for CV risk
+
• NSAIDs: Naproxen/ Ibuprofen
± (Local IA inflammation/enthesitis)
• IA Corticosteroid injection: Hydrocortisone
How would you manage Ankylosing Spondylitis in the case of peripheral joint involvement?
DMARDs
Biologics
What are the guidelines for using Biologics in Ankylosing Spondylitis?
• Biologics: Adalimumab/ Infliximab/ Etanercept
Describe Psoriatic Arthritis.
Type of seronegative inflammatory arthritis which is associated with psoriasis characterised by joint pain, joint stiffness, history of psoriasis and family history of psoriasis.
What is Arthritis Mutilans?
Deformity of joints of hands and feet, usually in conjunction with Psoriatic Arthritis, resulting in shortening of digits due to deformity at MCP and IP joints resulting in retraction of skin transversely into the space left - known as ‘opera glass’ hands or feet.
How may Psoriatic Arthritis present?
- Joint pain: prolonged morning stiffness ≥ 30 minutes; improves with use; worsened with prolonged rest
- Joint stiffness
- Dactylitis (uniform swelling of entire digit)
- Entheseal inflammation (pain at site of tendon attachment)
- Spinal stiffness + reduced ROM: Schober test
What investigations may suggest Psoriatic Arthritis?
Seronegative, unremarkable joint fluid aspirate and radiological finds on XR
How would you manage Psoriatic Arthritis?
Supportive: Physiotherapy; Exercise
Medical: NSAIDs; DMARDs; Steroids IA; Biologics
Surgery: joint fusion; arthroplasty
Describe Reactive Arthritis?
Inflammatory, seronegative arthritis occurring after exposure to GI and GU infections characterised by joint pain, joint stiffness and possibly a classical post-infectious triad (Reiter’s Syndrome): arthritis, urethritis and conjunctivitis
Outline the 3 clinical features of Reiter’s Syndrome.
Arthritis
Uveitis
Conjunctivitis
‘Can’t see, can’t wee, can’t climb a tree’
How may Reactive Arthritis present?
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Skin rash: Keratoderma blenorrhagicum (vesicular lesion becoming plaque/pustular on volar surfaces)
- Circinate balanitis (painless ulcers on glans of penis)
How may Reactive Arthritis be diagnosed?
Clinical diagnosis
Aided by exclusion of other differentials… seronegative; unremarkable arthrocentesis
How may you manage Reactive Arthritis?
NSAIDs
How may enterohepatic arthritis present?
- Joint pain: Mono (one joint) or Oligoarthritis
- Joint stiffness
• Known diagnosis of UC or CD
What investigations may aid your diagnosis of Enterohepatic arthritis?
- Arthrocentesis: Negative; Sterile
- Rheumatoid factor: Negative
- CRP: Elevated
- XR: Erosions
How would you manage enterohepatic arthritis?
• DMARD: Methotrexate/ Sulfasalazine/ Leflunomide ± • Corticosteroids: Prednisolone ± • Analgesia: Ibuprofen/ Naproxen
UVB converts 7-dehydrocholesterol into?
Cholecalciferol
Where is cholecalciferol stored?
WAT
Where is Cholecalciferol activated?
Liver, by 25-alpha hydroxylase
What converts cholecalciferol to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol?
25-alpha hydroxylase
What is the location for the formation of calcitriol?
Kidneys
What is the reactant used to convert 25-hydroxycholcalciferol into calcitriol?
1 alpha hydroxylase
Describe Osteoporosis.
Bone disease caused by reduction in bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to fragility and increased fracture risk
Outline the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Osteopenia is a reduced bone mass between -1 to -2.5 SDs whilst Osteoporosis is a reduced bone mass greater than -2.5 SDs
State 5 RFs for Osteoporosis.
- Female sex
- Caucasian
- Increasing age
- Hypogonadism
- FHx Hip Fx
- Disease: DM; Multiple myeloma; Cushing’s syndrome; Hyperthyroidism; Hyperparathyroidism
- Immobilisation
- Low BMI
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Vitamin D intake
- Drugs: Heparin/Ciclosporin/ Anticonvulsants
How may Osteoporosis present?
- Fractures: Vertebral/ Proximal femur/ Distal radius (Colles’ Fx)
- Kyphosis
What is the gold standard investigation for Osteoporosis?
- DEXA: T-score < 2.5 SDs
* XR: Osteopenia; Fx
What tool is used to assess Osteoporotic fracture risk?
FRAX Score
How may you manage a patient with Osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates are first line with Vitamin D and Calcium as an Adjunct.
Second line is Denosumab, a RANKLi
If there is a high risk fracture and vertebral fractures, PTH-R antagonist Teriparatide could be used
In a postmenopausal woman, Oestrogen may be added
When might you use Teriparatide in an Osteoporotic patient?
High risk fractures with T-Score <3 and vertebral fractures
Describe Osteopetrosis.
Condition caused by reduced bone resorption by osteoclasts leading to craniofacial abnormalities, chest wall deformities and skeletal enlargement
List some clinical features of Osteopetrosis.
- Facial nerve paralysis
- Macrognathia
- Teeth infections
- Vision loss
- Deafness
- Cranial nerve palsies