Rheumatology Flashcards
Differentiate arthritis based on mono- poly- acute and chronic
List the cardinal features of inflammatory arthritis
- Morning stiffness
- Worst with rest, better with activity
- Night pain (esp second half of the night)
- Swelling
Define acute vs chornic arthritis
<6 weeks vs over 6 weeks
Give a DDx for chronic inflammatory arthritis
What are the clinical features of RA
- Tender swollen symmetric small joints
- MCP
- PIP
- Wrists
- >6 weeks or arthritis
What are the serologies associated with RA. How sensitive and specific are each
- RF
- 25% are negative
- Anti CCP
- 95% specific
- Can precede arthritis
- marker of more erosive disease
- Elevated ESR, CRP
Are serologies or X-Rays necessary for a Dx of RA
- No need for serologies or XRay
What other conditions can raise RF?
- Other CTD
- HepC/ cryoglobulinemia
- Endocarditis
- Malignancy (B-Cell neoplasms most common)
- Age
- normal variation
List the extra-articular manifestation of RA
- Cardiac
- Pericarditis +/- effusion, myocarditis
- CAD, accelerated atherosclerosis
- Lung
- ILD (NSIP, UIP)
- Pleural effusion (R/O infection)
- Pulmonary nodules
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Hematological
- Anemia of chronic disease
- Felty syndrome:
- Seropositive RA + splenomegaly + Neutropenia
- Neurologic
- Carpal tunnel
- C1-C2 instability/subluxation = life threatening
- Other
- Rheumatological nodules
- Vasculitis
- Amyloidosis
- Scleritis
- Sicca syndrome (dry eyes, dry mouth)
- Raynauds
- Sweet syndrome
What are the conventional DMARDS that can be used in the treatment of RA
- MTx
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Sulfasalazine
- Leflunomide
What are the biological DMARDS that can be used in the treatment of RA
- TNF inhibitors
- Adalimumab
- Etanercept
- Infliximab
- Golimumab
- Certolizumab pegol
- Tocilizumab
- Abatacept
- Rituximab
What are the small molecules or targetted synthetic DMARDS that can be used in the treatment of RA
- Tofacitinib
- Baricitinib
- Upadacitinib
- Apremilast
What “bridge therapies” can be used for acute treatment in RA
- Steroids (smallest possible dose)
- NSAIDS
- analgesics
What is the long term disease modifying therapy for RA
-
Step 1: DMARD
- Low disease activity: Hydroxychloroquine
- Moderate to high disease activity: MTx
-
Step 2: Biologic or small molecule
- Use once failed MTx
- Start with TNF and continue MTx
What are the side effects of MTx
- Hepatotoxicity
- Nausea
- Pancytopenia
- Pulmonary toxicity
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- fibrosis
- Oral ulcers
- Alopecia
- Teratogenicity
What are side effects of hydroxychloroquine
- Retinal toxicity
- Rash
- Photosensitivity
- Myotoxicity (rare)
- cardiotoxicity (rare)
What are the side effects of leflunomide
- GI
- Nausea
- GI pain
- Dyspepsia
- diarrhea
- Hepatotoxicity
- HTN
- Myelosuppression
- Peripheral neuropathy
- teratogenicity
What are the side effects of Sulfasalazine
- GI toxicity
- headache
- rash
- CI in sulfa allergy
What should be considered when treating RA in patients with pulmonary disease?
- MTx can cause pneumonitis
- If parenchymal lung disease is mild, incidental, stable then MTx can be used if moderate to severe RA activity
What should be considered when treating RA in patients with heart failure?
- TNFi can lead to heart failure
- Don’t start TNFi if history of NYHA III or IV CHF
- If patients develop CHF on TNFi, switch to another agent
What should be considered when treating RA in patients with Lymphoproliferative disoorders?
- Rituximab first line in lymphoproliferative disorders where rituximab is indicated
What should be considered when treating RA in patients with NAFLD?
- MTX can be hepatotoxic
- Can still use MTX if liver enzymes, liver function normal and no advanced liver fibrosis in the case of moderate to severe RA
How is MTx induced nausea managed
- Increase folic acid to 5mg daily
- Trial of H2 blocker or PPI
- Add leucovorin post MTx dose
How is MTx induced stomatitis managed
- Increase folic acid to 5mg daily
- Add leucovorin
- If folic acid, leucovorin inefective or ulcers are severe reduce MTx dose
How is MTx induced hepatotoxicity managed
- Mildly elevated LFTs: reduce MTx dose
- LFTs>2x ULN: HOLD MTx dose then resume at a lower dose 1-2 weeks after normalization
How is MTx induced rash managed
- Reduce MTx dose
- if not resolving, stop MTx
How is MTx induced cytopenias managed
Dose reduce or discontinue MTx depending on toxicity
How is MTx induced pneumonitis managed
Discontinue MTx, do not restart
What risks are associated with biologics
- Infection
- New or reactivation
- Drug induced SLE/antibodies
- Local skin reactions
- Malignancy risk
- esp. non-melanomatous skin cancer
What baseline tests should be sent before starting a biologic
- Heb B, C testing
- If positive, treat concurrently
- TB testing as per algorithm
What are the vaccination recommendations for patients on biologics
- Yearly influenza vaccine
- Some evidence ot hold MTX 2 weeks before and after vaccine not in guidelines
- Pneumococcal
- PCV12 prime then PPSV23 at least 8 weeks later
- Tetanus
- As per general population
- Hep A and B
- Only in patients at high risk of exposure
- Herpes zoster
- non-live (shinrix) preferred
- Live attenuated gan be given to high risk patients not on biologics
- Give at least 4 weeks before starting biologic
- HPV
- As per general population, especially in SLE patients
- Vaccinate ideally when disease is quiescent
-
avoid live attenuated vaccines
- Except possibly MMR and herpes zoster
- Immunocompetent household members should be vaccinated as per national guidelines except polio vaccine
- Patients on B-Cell depleting therapies should be vaccinated before starting therapy or 6 months after last dose AND 4 weeks prior to next dose
When is biologic use controversial
- NYHA class III or IV CHF
- TNFs can worsen
- Active hepatitis
- Start hepatitis treatment first and consult GI
- Prior lymphoproliferative malignancy
- Use rituximab
- Prior solid organ malignancy
- Consult oncologist prior to starting
- Prior skin cancer
- conventional DMARDS preferred
- Prior serious infection
- Consider conventional DMARDS if serious infection within 12 months
- In flare, modify frequency rather than dose
What vaccination guidance should be given to newborns of mothers on biologics during pregnancy
- Avoid live-attenuated vaccines in the first 6 months of life
- i.e. no rotavirus vaccine
How should RA be managed during pregnancy?
- Pre-pregnancy: ideal in remission
- Discontinue MTx at least 1-3 months prior to conception
- Ideally, avoid leflunomide in patients with the possibility of pregnancy
- In patients who get pregnant on leflunomide, measure level and treat with cholestyramine washout if detectible
- Taper prednisone to <20mg/day
- In pregnancy
- Often patients go into remission intrapartum
- Hydroxychloroquine, SSZ and biologics are safe during pregnancy, can continue
- Certolizumab marketed as larger molecule that does not cross the placental barrier
- Can use low dose glucocorticoids (pred<20mg)
- Avoid NSAIDS
- Post-partum
- Avoid MTx and leflunomide during breastfeeding
- Sulfasalazine safe during breastfeeding (theoretical risk of kernictus)
- Biologics are safe while breastfeeding
How should RA meds be managed in males pre-conception
Can continue MTx
Avoid cyclophosphamide and thalidomide
What are the clinical features of seronegative arthropathies
- SI joint, axial involvement
- Peripheral joints
- Asymmetric large joints:
- AS
- PsA
- Reactive
- IBD type 1 (fewer large joints, ass. with bowel activity)
- Symmetric small joints
- PsA
- IBD type 2 (Many small joints, independent of bowel)
- Asymmetric large joints:
- Extra-articular findings
- Enthesitis
- Dactylitis
- Uveitis
- Conjunctivits
- Skin
- Erythema nodosum
- Pyoderma gangrenosum (IBD)
- Keratoderma blennorrhagicum
- circinate balanitis (reactive)
- Psoriatic skin and nail changes (PsA)
What is the management of seronegative spondyloarthropathies?
- non-pharmacological
- Physiotherapy
- exercise
- Quit smoking
- Pharmacologic
- NSAIDS ar first line: on demand if stable, continuous if active
- Recommend against systemic steroids
- IA Glucocorticoids can be considered if isolated joint arthritis
- If intolerant to two different NSAIDS at max dose over 1 month or incomplete response to at least 2 NSAIDS over 2 months
- Consider DMARDS for peripheral disease (MTx, SSZ)
- No role in axial disease
- TNF are 1st line biologics
- IL-17 and JAK inhibitors second line
- NSAIDS ar first line: on demand if stable, continuous if active
WHat is the most common cause of monoarthritis in the hip or knee?
- Septic arthritis
What is the most common bacterial etiology of septic arthritis?
S. Aureus in both native and proosthetic joints
Salmonella in sickle cell
What is the empiric antibiotherapy for septic joint based on the gram stain
What are the 2 common syndromes in gonococcal arthritis
- Triad of tenosynovitis, vesiculopustulat skin lesions, and migratory polyarthralgias without purulent arthritis
- Purulent arthritis without skin lesions
How common is gonococcal arthritis
occurs in less than 5% of gonococcal infections
How is gonococcal arthritis treated?
- Ceftriaxone
- Treat concurrently for chlamydia
What are the clinical manifestations of reactive arthritis
- Occurs several days to 4 weeks following gastroenteritis or urethritis
- Typically asymmetric, mono or oligo arthritis, lower extremity predominant
- CAN cause inflammatory back pain and sacroillitis
- Can (50-75%0 cause uveitis, conjunctivitis
- Can reccur and become chronic
What are the causative microbiological organisms in reactive arthritis
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Yersinia
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Campylobacter
How is reactive arthritis treated
- NSAIDS, intraarticular corticosteroids
- Consider DMARDS in recurrent/chronic disease
- MTX, SSZ
- rarely TNF
* no role for ABx
Differentiate the clinical pictures of acute lyme infection and chronic Lyme arthritis
- Acute infection: Arthralgias and myalgias
- Lyme arthritis:
- Late onset >6months post-infection
- Oligoarthritis with synovitis and swelling most commonly affecting the knees.
- Symptoms can fluctuate – swelling and erythema without significant pain
- Inflammatory synovial fluid
How is lyme arthritis diagnosed?
Lyme serology + clinical picture
If Dx needs confirmation, PCR of synovial fluid or tissue
How is lyme arthritis treated
- Oral ABx x 28 days (Doxy or amoxil)
- Treatment failure with objective severe synovitis :
- Exclude other Dx
- CTx IV x2-4 weeks
- Post-ABx
- Refer to rheum for consideration of DMARD, biologics
- Repeated courses of ABx not suggested
- Refer to rheum for consideration of DMARD, biologics
List risk factors for gout
- Hyperuricemia
- Renal insufficiency
- Metabolic syndrome
- hemolysis
- TLS
- Polycythemia
- Meds
- Thiazides
- low dose ASA
- Allopurinool
- pyrazinamide
- Diet
- Beer
- red meat
- seafood
- Demographics
- Male
- Post-menopausal femalse
- obseity
*estrogen has protective effects
What joints are most commonly affected by gout
- Monoarticular in 80% of initial attacks
- Predilectino to lower extermitites
- Most commonly 1st MTP or knee
Where is the most common place to find tophi
- Cool extremities, EARLOBES
What is found on radiography in CPPD
Chondrocalcinosis
What is found on microscopy in CPPD?
Intra-articular rhomboid-shaped, positively birefringent crystals
What diseases are associated with CPPD?
- OA
- Hypo T4
- HypoMg
- Hypo PO4
- HH (2nd, 3rd MCP and PIP joint arthritis)
- Hyperrpara
- Wilson’s (rarely)
Who gets calcific tendinitis/Milwaukee shoulder
Older females
What is the main clinical presentation of calcified tendinitis
- Acute onset
- Destructive shoulder arthropathy
Interpret synovial fluid analysis
How is acute gout treated?
- NSAIDS
- Colchicine
- Glucocorticoids
- IA if monoarthritis
- Oral if polyarthritis
- Consider anakinra (IL-1 blocker) in frequent flares with CI to other treatment options
If a patient is already on allopurinol, should it be held during an acute flare
No
If a patient meets criteria for allopurinol on their first gout flare, when should it be started?
Right away with colchicine
What are the definate and conditional indications for uric acid lowering therapy in gout
- Definate
- ≥2 attacks perr year
- Tophaceous gout
- Gouty arthropathy (ie. erosions)
- Conditional (1 episode PLUS:)
- CKD stage 3
- Uric acid >535
- Urolithiasis