Rheumatology Flashcards
What is osteoarthritis?
- Degenerative change-> wear and tear of synovial joints
- Imbalance between cartilage wearing down + chondrocytes repairing
What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?
Obesity, age, occupation, trauma, female, family history
What are the X-ray changes characteristic of osteoarthritis?
LOSS or no X-ray change
- Loss of joint space
- Osteophytes
- Subchondral sclerosis-> increased density of bone along joint line
- Subchondral cysts-> fluid filled holes in bone
How does osteoarthritis present?
- Joint pain + stiffness-> worse on activity
- Deformity, instability, reduced function
- Joints affected-> MCP (thumb base), DIPJs, wrist, hips, knees, SIJs, cervical spine
- Hands-> Heberden’s nodes (DIPJ), Bouchard’s (PIPJ), squaring of thumb base, weak grip, reduced ROM
What are Heberden’s nodes?
Deformity of DIPJs in osteoarthritis
What are Bouchard’s nodes?
Deformity of PIPJs in osteoarthritis
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
- Can make without investigations in >45s
- Symptoms-> activity related pain, no morning stiffness, no stiffness lasting <30 mins
How is osteoarthritis managed?
- Weight loss
- Physio
- OT
- Analgesia-> paracetamol, NSAIDs (oral/topical), PPI, opiates
- Intra-articular steroid injections
- Joint replacement-> hip/knee
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
- Autoimmune condition causing chronic inflammation of synovial lining, tendon sheaths and bursa
- Symmetrical polyarthritis
What are the risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis?
- Women
- Any age but usually middle
- FH
- HLADR4 gene (in RF +ve patients)
What is rheumatoid factor?
- Autoantibody-> usually IgM
- Targets Fc portion of IgG antibody-> systemic inflammation
- Present in 70% of RA patients
What is anti-CCP?
- Antibody sometimes present in rheumatoid arthritis
- More sensitive than rheumatoid factor
How does rheumatoid arthritis present?
- Pain, swelling + stiffness-> improves with activity
- Joints-> hands + feet (eg wrist, ankle, MCP, PIP, MTPJs)
- Can affect large joints-> knees, shoulders, elbows
- DIPJs hardly affected
- Atlantoaxial subluxation
- Hand signs-> Z-shaped deformity of thumb, Swan neck deformity, Boutonniere’s
- Extra-articular disease
What hand signs can patients get in rheumatoid arthritis?
- Boggy inflammation + swelling
- Z-shaped deformity of thumb
- Swan neck deformity-> hyperextended PIPJ + flexed DIPJ
- Boutonniere’s deformity-> hyperextended DIPJ + flexed PIPJ
What extra-articular disease can present in rheumatoid arthritis?
- Caplan’s syndrome-> pulmonary fibrosis + nodules
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Felty’s syndrome-> rheumatoid arthritis + neutropaenia + splenomegaly
- Sicca syndrome-> secondary Sjogren’s
- Anaemia
- CVD
- Carpal tunnel
- Episcleritis + scleritis
- Rheumatoid nodules
- Amyloidosis
What is Felty’s syndrome?
rheumatoid arthritis + neutropaenia + splenomegaly
How is rheumatoid arthritis investigated?
- Clinical
- Rheumatoid factor
- Anti-CCP
- CRP
- ESR
- X-rays-> joint destruction, bony erosions etc
- US-> synovitis
- Referral criteria
What X-ray changes might be present in rheumatoid arthritis?
- Joint destruction + deformity
- Soft tissue swelling
- Periarticular osteopenia
- Bony erosions
What is the referral criteria for suspected rheumatoid arthritis?
- Adult with persistent synovitis regardless of markers
- Urgent-> small joints of hands + feet, multiple joints, symptoms for 3+ months
What is the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis?
American College of Rheumatology + European League Against Rheumatism-> score added up and 6+ indicates
- More joints-> higher
- Small joints-> higher
- RF and anti-CCP
- ESR and CRP
- Symptoms for 6+ weeks
What is the DAS28 score?
For rheumatoid arthritis
- Disease activity-> assess 28 joints for swelling + tenderness
- Use ESR + CRP too
What affects prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis?
Young, male, more joints, RF and anti-CCP positive, erosions on X-ray-> worse prognosis
What is used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment?
- NSAIDS, COX-2 inhibitors, steroids (+PPI cover)
- DMARDs-> methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalasine, hydroxychloroquinine
- May use infliximab or etanercept or rituximab
- CRP + DAS28 to monitor treatment success
What is the mechanism of action of methotrexate?
Interferes with folate metabolism + suppresses immune system-> use in rheumatoid arthritis
How is methotrexate taken?
- 1 tablet/injection once weekly
- Folic acid 5mg on different day
What are the side effects of methotrexate?
Pulmonary fibrosis, teratogenic, liver toxicity, mouth ulcers, mucositis, low WBCs
What is leflunomide?
Interfered with pyrimidine production (RNA + DNA)-> used in rheumatoid arthritis
What are some side effects of leflunomide?
Hypertension and peripheral neuropathy
What is sulfasalazine?
Immunosuppressant + anti-inflammatory-> related to folate metabolism
What is a side effect of sulfasalazine?
Reduced sperm count
What is hydrochloroquine?
Antimalarial but immunosuppressant too-> use in rheumatoid arthritis
What are some side effects of hydrochloroquine?
Nightmares + reduced visual acuity
How do anti-TNF drugs (eg etanercept) work?
Block TNF cytokines + reduce inflammation
What are some side effects of anti-TNF drugs (eg etanercept)?
reactivation of TB + Hep B
What is rituximab?
Monoclonal antibody-> can use in RA
What are some side effects of rituximab?
Low platelets, night sweats
What is psoriatic arthritis?
- Inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis
- Seronegative spondyloarthropathy
How many patients with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis?
10-20%
What are the different patterns of psoriatic arthritis?
- Symmetrical polyarthritis-> hands, wrists, ankles, DIPJ
- Asymmetrical pauciarthritis-> digits + few joints
- Spondylitis pattern-> back, sacroiliitis etc
- Other-> spine, achilles, plantar fascia
What are the signs of psoriatic arthritis?
- Nails-> psoriasis, nail pitting, onycholysis
- Dactylitis-> full finger inflammation
- Enthesitis-> tendon inserting to bone tender
- Eyes-> conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis
- Aortitis
- Amyloidosis
What is the PEST screening tool?
Psoriasis Epidemiological Screening Tool-> if high score get rheum referral
What are the X-ray changes classical of psoriatic arthritis?
- Pencil in cup-> central erosion to bone beside joint, one bone hollow + other narrow, in hands + feet
- Periostitis-> periosteum inflammed
- Ankylosis-> bones join + stiffen
- Osteolysis-> destroy bone
- Dactylitis-> soft tissue swelling
What is the ‘pencil in cup’ X-ray sign?
Sign of psoriatic arthritis
- central erosion to bone beside joint
- one bone hollow + other narrow
- in hands + feet
What is arthritis mutilans?
- Severe psoriatic arthritis
- Osteolysis of phalanxes + progressive shortening
- Telescopic finger
How is psoriatic arthritis managed?
- NSAIDs
- DMARDs
- Anti-TNF
- Ustekinumab-> monoclonal antibody
What is reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)?
- Acute monoarthritis
- Synovitis in reaction to recent infective trigger
- Often GE or STI
- Seronegative spondyloarthopathy
What usually triggers reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)?
- Gastroenteritis
- STI-> chlamydia
What gene is seronegative spondyloarthropathy associated with?
HLAB27
What symptoms is reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome) associated with?
Can’t pee, see or climb a tree
- Bilateral conjunctivitis
- Anterior uveitis
- Circinate balantitis
- Arthritis
How is reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome) managed?
- Hot joint policy-> antibiotics until septic excluded
- Aspirate-> MC&S to exclude septic + crystal exam (gout or pseudogout)
- NSAIDs
- Steroid injections
- Systemic steroids in multiple joints
- Most resolve in 6 months
- Recurrent-> DMARDs or anti-TNF
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
- Seronegative spondyloarthropathy
- Progressive stiffness + pain in spine-> SIJ + vertebral column joints
- Fusion in joints
What is the classic X-ray finding in ankylosing spondylitis?
Bamboo spine
How does ankylosing spondylitis present?
- Typically young male with symptoms for 3 months
- Lower back pain + stiffness in buttocks
- Improves with movement
- Worse at night + morning (may wake)
- Takes 30 minutes to improve on a morning
- Vertebral fractures
- Lots of systemic associations eg weight loss, chest pain, dactylitis
What other systemic/extra-articular symptoms can ankylosing spondylitis present with?
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Chest pain-> costovertebral + costosternal joints
- Enthesitis
- Dactylitis
- Anaemia
- Anterior uveitis
- Aortitis
- Heart block
- Restrictive lung disease
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- IBD
What is Schober’s test?
- Stand straight + find L5 vertebrae
- Mark 10cm above + 5cm below joint
- Ask to bend forwards + measure distance
- Different of <20cm-> restriction of lumbar movements
- Supports diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis
What investigations are done in ankylosing spondylitis?
- CRP + ESR
- HLAB27 genetics
- X ray of spine and sacrum-> bamboo spine
- MRI-> bone marrow oedema
What X-ray findings might be present in ankylosing spondylitis?
- Bamboo spine
- Squaring of vertebral bodies
- Subchondral sclerosis + erosions
- Syndesmophytes-> bone growth where ligaments insert
- Ossification-> ligaments/discs turn to bone
- Fusion-> SI, facet or costovertebral joints
How is ankylosing spondylitis managed?
- NSAIDs
- Steroids in flares
- Anti-TNF-> etanercept or infliximab
- Secukinumab
- Physio
- Exercise
- Avoid smoking
- Bisphosphonates for osteoporosis
- Surgery
What is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?
- Inflammatory autoimmune connective tissue disease
- Affects multiple organs + systems (systemic)
- Red malar rash (erythematosus)
- Relapsing remitting course
Who is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) more common in?
- Women
- Asians
- Young to middle ages adults
What is the pathophysiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?
- Anti-nuclear antibodies-> to cell nuclei
- Immune response to target proteins-> inflammatory response
- Chronic + against body tissues
How does Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) present?
- Photosensitive malar rash-> butterfly rash on nose + cheeks worsened by sunlight
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Arthralgia
- Myalgia
- Fever
- SOB
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Mouth ulcers
- Hair loss
- Raynaud’s
- Lymphadenopathy
- Splenomegaly
How is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) investigated?
- Autoantibodies-> anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), antiphospholipid (secondary)
- FBC-> normocytic anaemia
- CRP + ESR
- C3 + C4 decreased
- Urine protein:creatinine + renal biopsy-> nephritis
What diagnostic criteria can be used in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?
SLICC or ACR-> ANA + clinical features
What auto-antibodies are usually present in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?
- anti-nuclear (ANA)
- anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA)
- antiphospholipid (secondary)
What are the complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?
Chronic inflammation…
- CVD-> often cause death
- Infection
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Pericarditis
- Pleurisy
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lupus nephritis
- Neuropsychiatric
- Recurrent miscarriage
- IUGR
- Pre-eclampsia
- Preterm
- Anti-phospholipid syndrome
- VTE
How is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) managed?
- Symptom control not sure
- NSAIDs, prednisolone, hydroxychloroquinine, suncream + sun avoidance
- Immunosuppressants when severe-> MTX, azathioprine etc
- Biological when severe/resistance-> rituximab etc
What is Discoid Lupus Erythematosus?
Non-cancerous skin condition associated with risk of SLE + squamous cell cancers
Who is Discoid Lupus Erythematosus more common in?
- Women
- Age 20-40
- Darker skinned
- Smokers
How does Discoid Lupus Erythematosus present?
- Lesions on face/ears/scalp-> inflamed, dry, erythematous, patchy, crusty/scaling, photosensitive
- Scarring alopecia-> hair doesn’t grow back
- Hyper/hypopigmented scars
How is Discoid Lupus Erythematosus managed?
- Skin biopsy to confirm
- Sun protection
- Topical steroids
- Intralesion steroid injections
- Hydroxychloroquine
What is systemic sclerosis?
- Autoimmune inflammatory + fibrotic connective tissue disease
- Affects skin + internal organs
- Scleroderma-> hardening of skin
What are the different types of systemic sclerosis?
- Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis-> CREST syndrome
- Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis-> CREST features + internal organ problems
What are the features of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (CREST syndrome)?
- Calcinosis
- Raynaud’s
- Oesophageal dysmotility
- Sclerodactyly
- Telangiectasia
What are the features of Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis?
- Calcinosis
- Raynaud’s
- Oesophageal dysmotility
- Sclerodactyly
- Telangiectasia
- HTN + CAD
- Pulmonary HTN + fibrosis
- Glomerulonephritis
- Scleroderma renal crisis
What are the features of systemic sclerosis?
- Scleroderma-> tight + shiny skin
- Calcinosis-> deposits under skin
- Raynaud’s
- Oesophageal dysmotility
- Sclerodactyly
- Telangiectasia
- Systemic and pulmonary HTN
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Scleroderma renal crisis
What is Raynaud’s phenomenon?
- Fingers completely white/blue in response to cold
- Vasoconstriction of vessels
- Common without underlying disease but may indicate systemic sclerosis
What auto-antibodies may be present in systemic sclerosis?
- ANA
- Anti-centromere
- Anti-Scl-70
What is nailfold capillaroscopy?
- Examine where skin meets fingernails at base
- Peripheral capillaries-> abnormal, avascular, microhaemorrhages etc
- Look for systemic sclerosis in Raynaud’s
What is used to investigate for systemic sclerosis?
Nailfold capillaroscopy
- Examine where skin meets fingernails at base
- Peripheral capillaries-> abnormal, avascular, microhaemorrhages etc
- Look for systemic sclerosis in Raynaud’s
How is systemic sclerosis diagnosed?
American College of Rheumatology + European League Against Rheumatism criteria-> clinical + antibodies + nailfold capillaroscopy
How is systemic sclerosis managed?
- Steroids + immunosuppressants
- Skin stretching
- Emollients
- Cold avoidance
- PT + OT
- Nifedipine-> Raynaud’s
- PPIs
- Analgesia
- Anti-HTNs
What is polymyalgia rheumatica?
Inflammatory condition causing pain and stiffness in the shoulders, pelvic girdle and neck
What is polymyalgia rheumatica strongly associated with?
Giant cell arteritis
Who is polymyalgia rheumatica most common in?
- Women
- Caucasians
- 50+
What are the core features of polymyalgia rheumatica?
- Symptoms for 2+ weeks
- Bilateral shoulder pain + can radiate to elbow
- Bilateral pelvic girdle pain
- Worsened-> movement
- Interferes with sleep
- 45 min+ of morning stiffness
- Systemic-> weight loss, low mood
- Upper arm tenderness
- Carpal tunnel
- Pitting oedema
What the the differentials for polymyalgia rheumatica?
- OA
- RA
- SLE
- Myositis
- Cervical spondylosis
- Adhesive capsulitis
- Hyper or hypothyroidism
- Osteomalacia
- Fibromyalgia
How is polymyalgia rheumatica diagnosed?
- Clinical + response to steroids
- Inflammatory-> CRP + ESR
- FBC, U+Es, LFTs, TFTs, CK (raised)
- RF
- Calcium-> other causes
- Urine dip
- Rule out-> ANA (SLE), anti-CCP (RA), Bence-Jones (myeloma), CXR
How is polymyalgia rheumatica managed?
- Oral prednisolone-> 15mg OD
- Assess after 1 week + stop if no response
- Assess after 3-4 weeks-> should improve
- Good response-> reducing regime long term
- Recurrence-> increase dose + can take 1-2 years
- Rheumatology referral-> if need steroids for 2+ years
How long does it take for someone to become dependent on steroids?
3 weeks
What extra precautions should be done when someone is on long-term steroid therapy?
- Sick day rules-> increase dose when unwell
- Treatment card-> alert when unresponsive
- Osteoporosis prevention-> bisphosphonates + calcium + vitamin D
- PPI
What is giant cell arteritis?
Systemic vasculitis of medium + large arteries-> commonly temporal arteritis
What is giant cell arteritis associated with?
Polymyalgia rheumatica-> high risk when female + 50+
What is a key complication of temporal arteritis?
Irreversible vision loss
What are the symptoms of temporal arteritis?
- Headache-> severe, unilateral, temple/forehead
- Scalp tenderness-> when brush hair etc
- Jaw claudication
- Blurred/double vision-> can get rapid complete painless sight loss
- Systemic-> fever, muscle ache, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, peripheral oedema
How is temporal arteritis diagnosed?
- Raised ESR
- Temporal artery biopsy-> multinucleated giant cells + beware of skip lesions
- FBC, LFTs, CRP
- Duplex US of temporal artery-> hypoechoic halo sign
How is temporal arteritis managed?
- Steroids immediately-> 40-60mg prednisolone a day + review response in 48 hours
- Steroids till symptoms resolve-> can take few years
- Aspirin 75mg OD-> if suspect visual loss + stroke
- PPI + osteoporosis prevention
What are the complications of temporal arteritis?
- Neuro-opthalmic-> visual loss + stroke
- Relapses
- Steroid related SEs
- CVA
- Aortitis-> aneurysm + dissection
What is polymyositis?
Chronic inflammation of muscles
What is dermatomyositis?
Connective tissue disorder in which skin + muscles are chronically inflamed
What is the key investigation for polymyositis & dermatomyositis?
Creatinine kinase-> can be >1000u/L (normal- <300)
What can cause polymyositis & dermatomyositis?
Malignancy-> paraneoplastic syndrome of lung, breast, ovarian or gastric cancers
How does polymyositis present?
- Muscle pain + weakness-> bilateral, proximal, shoulders, pelvic girdle, over a few weeks
- No skin involvement
- Fatigue
How does dermatomyositis present?
- Muscle pain + weakness-> bilateral, proximal, shoulders, pelvic girdle, over a few weeks
- Fatigue
- Photosensitive erythematous rash-> back, shoulders, neck
- Purple rash on face + eyelids
- Periorbital oedema
- Subcutaenous calcinosis
- Gottron lesions-> scaly + erythematous
How is polymyositis diagnosed?
- Clinical
- High CK
- Autoantibodies-> anti-Jo-1
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Muscle biopsy
How is dermatomyositis diagnosed?
- Clinical
- High CK
- Autoantibodies-> anti-Mi-2, ANA
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Muscle biopsy
How is polymyositis managed?
- Assess for underlying cancers
- PT + OT
- Corticosteroids, azathioprine, IV Igs, biologicals
How is dermatomyositis managed?
- Assess for underlying cancers
- PT + OT
- Corticosteroids, azathioprine, IV Igs, biologicals
What is the pathophysiology if antiphospholipid syndrome?
- Antiphospholipid antibodies
- Interfere with coagulation + make more prone-> hypercoagulable
- Primary or secondary (eg SLE)
What are the associations/complications of antiphospholipid syndrome?
- VTE, stroke, MI
- Pregnancy-> recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-eclampsia
- Thrombocytopaenia
- Livedo reticularis-> purple rash + mottled
- Libmann-Sacks endocarditis
How is antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosed?
History of thrombosis or pregnancy complications + antibodies (antiphospholipid)
How is antiphospholipid syndrome managed?
- Rheumatology, haematology + ostatrics involvement
- Warfarin-> INR range 2-3
- LMWH + aspirin in pregnancy
What is Sjogren’s syndrome?
- Autoimmune disease of exocrine glands
- Dry mucous membranes-> mouth, eyes, vagina
- Primary or secondary (eg SLE)
What antibodies are present in Sjogren’s syndrome?
Anti-ro + anti-la
What is the Schirmer test?
- Folded filter paper under lower lid + strip hand out over eyelid
- 5 mins-> measure distance along strip
- Normal-> >15mm
- Sjogren’s syndrome-> <10mm
How is Sjogren’s syndrome managed?
- Artificial tears and saliva
- Vaginal lubricants
- Hydroxychloroquine
What are the common complications of Sjogren’s syndrome?
- Conjunctivitis
- Corneal ulcers
- Dental cavities
- Candida infections
- Sexual dysfunction
What is vasculitis?
Inflammation of blood vessels-> can be small, medium or large
What are some types of small vessel vasculitis?
- Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura
- Churg-Strauss
- Wegener’s granulomatosis
- Microscopic polyangiitis
What are some types of medium vessel vasculitis?
- Polyarteris nodosa
- Churg-Strauss
- Kawasaki’s disease
What are some types of large vessel vasculitis?
- Giant cell arteritis
- Takayasu’s arteritis
How does vasculitis present (in general)?
- Systemic-> fatigue, weight loss, anaemia, fever
- Purpura-> purple + non-blanching
- Joint + muscle pain
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Renal impairment
- Uveitis + scleritis
- HTN
What investigations are done in vasculitis?
- CRP
- ESR
- Anti-neurophil cytoplasmis (ANCA)
- P-ANCA + C-ANCA
How is vasculitis managed?
- Depends on type
- Rheum referral
- Steroids-> oral, IV, nasal, inhaled
- Cyclophosphamide
- MTX
- Azathioprine
What is Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?
- IgA vasculitis-> deposits in blood vessels
- Small vessel vasculitis
How does Henoch-Schonlein Purpura present?
- Purpuric rash on legs/bum
- Joint pain
- Abdominal pain
- Renal involvement
- Often kids <10 years
What can trigger Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?
- Upper airway infection
- GE
How is Henoch-Schonlein Purpura managed?
Supportive-> simple analgesia
How often does Henoch-Schonlein Purpura recur?
In 1/3 patients within 6 months
What is Churg-Strauss?
- Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- Type of vasculitis-> small + medium vessel
How does Churg-Strauss present?
- Severe asthma in late teens/adults
- High eosinophils on RBC
How does microscopic polyangiitis present?
- Renal failure
- SOB
- Haemoptysis
How does Wegener’s granulomatosis present?
- Upper resp-> epistaxis, crusty secretions, saddle nise
- Hearing loss
- Cough, wheeze, haemoptysis
- Glomerulonephritis
What is polyarteritis nodosa associated with?
Hep B/C or HIV
How does polyarteritis nodosa present?
- MI
- Renal impairment
- Livedo reticularis-> mottles purple lace-like rash
What is Kawasaki disease?
Medium vessel vasculitis
What are the features of Kawasaki disease?
- High fever for 5+ days
- Erythematous rash
- Bilateral conjunctivitis
- Erythema + desquamation of palms + soles
- Strawberry tongue
What is the main complication of Kawasaki disease?
Coronary artery aneurysm
How is Kawasaki disease managed?
- Aspirin
- IV Igs
How does Takayasu’s arteritis present?
- Age <40
- Fever
- Malaise
- Claudication
- Syncope
What is Takayasu’s arteritis?
- Large vessel vasculitis
- Aorta, branches + pulmonary arteries
- Aneurysms + blockages
How is Takayasu’s arteritis diagnosed?
CT, MRI angiography, carotid doppler US
What is Bechet’s syndrome?
Complex inflammatory condition causing recurrent oral + genital ulcers
What gene is Bechet’s syndrome associated with?
HLA B51
What are the features of Bechet’s syndrome?
- 3+ ulcers a year taking 2-4 weeks to heal-> genital + oral
- Erythema nodosum
- Uveitis
- Morning stiffness + arthralgia
- CNS-> headaches + memory problems
- Pulmonary artery aneurysms
- DVT
How is Bechet’s syndrome investigated?
Pathergy test-> subcut abrasion + measure size in 24-48 hours
How is Bechet’s syndrome managed?
- Steroid tablets
- Colchicine
- Lidocaine ointment
- Immunosuppressants
What is gout?
- Crystal arthropathy
- High uric acid causes urate crystals in joints
What are gouty tophi?
- Subcutaneous deposits of uric acid
- Often in hands, elbows, ears and DIPJs
- Need to rule out septic arthritis if hot + swollen
What differential for gout is important to rule out?
Septic arthritis
What are the risk factors for gout?
- Male
- Obese
- High purine-> meat + seafood
- Alcohol
- Diuretics
- CVD
- Kidney disease
- Family history
What joints are typically affected in gout?
- MTPJ
- Wrists
- Base of thumb (CMJs)
How is gout diagnosed?
- Clinical + exclude septic joint
- Aspirate-> needle shaped negatively birefringent crystals (monosodium urate)
- Joint X ray-> lytic lesions, punched out erosions, sclerotic borders, overhanging edges to erosions
What will be found on a joint aspirate in gout?
needle shaped negatively birefringent crystals (monosodium urate)
How is gout managed acutely?
- NSAIDs 1st line
- Colchicine
- Steroids considered
How is gout managed long term?
- Allopurinol after acute attack settled
- Weight loss
- Minimise seafood + alcohol
What is allopurinol?
- Xanthine oxidase inhibitor
- Used in gout (long term)
What is pseudogout?
- Crystal arthropathy
- Calcium pyrophosphate crystals in joints
- AKA chondrocalcinosis
How does pseudogout present?
- Hot, swollen, stiff, painful joint(s)
- Affects knee, shoulders, wrists, hips
- Can be chronic
How is pseudogout diagnosed?
- Rule out septic
- Aspiration-> no bacteria, rhomboid shaped positive birefringent crystals (calcium pyrophosphate)
- X ray shows LOSS + chondrocalcinosis-> thin white line in middle of joint space (calcium deposits)
What does LOSS stand for (in X-ray signs)?
- Loss of joint space
- Osteophyte formation
- Subchondral sclerosis
- Subarticular sclerosis
What will be found on joint aspiration in pseudogout?
rhomboid shaped positive birefringent crystals (calcium pyrophosphate)
What X-ray sign is pathognomonic for pseudogout?
chondrocalcinosis-> thin white line in middle of joint space (calcium deposits)
How is pseudogout managed?
- Nothing if chronic + asymptomatic
- May spontaneously resolve over few weeks
- NSAIDs
- Colchicine
- Joint aspiration
- Steroids
- Arthrocentesis (washout)
What is osteoporosis?
Reduction in bone density leading to weakness and fractures
What is osteopenia?
Less severe than osteoporosis-> reduction in bone density
What are the risk factors for developing osteoporosis?
- Older
- Female
- Reduced mobility/activity
- Low BMI
- RA
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Long term steroids
- Other meds-> SSRIs, PPIs, anti-epileptics, anti-oestrogens
- Post-menopausal (as oestrogen protective)
- Previous fracture
- Falls
- Endocrine disorders
What can protect against osteoporosis?
- Oestrogen therapies-> HRT
- Pre-menopausal
What is the FRAX scoring tool?
Risk of fragility fracture (major osteoporotic and hip fractures) over the next 10 years
- Age
- Sex
- BMI
- Co-morbidities-> RA, secondary osteoporosis, glucocorticoids
- History of fracture
- Smoking
- Alcohol (>3 units/day)
- Family history
- BMD
How is bone mineral density measured?
- DEXA scan
- Measure how much radiation absorbed by bones + indicate how dense
- Measured at hip
- T-score-> number of std devs below mean for healthy young adult
What is a normal BMD score?
-1 or more
What BMD score indicates osteopaenia?
-1 to -2.5
What BMD score indicates osteoporosis?
-2.5 or less
What BMD score + features indicate severe osteoporosis?
-2.5 or less + fracture
When is FRAX score measured?
- When at risk
- Women >65
- Men >75
- Younger with risk factors
How is osteoporosis managed?
- Activity
- Stop smoking
- Fall avoidance
- Calcium + Vitamin D
- Bisphosphonates eg alendronate
- Denosumab-> monoclonal antibody
- HRT
- Follow up-> repeat FRAX + DEXA every 3-5 years
- Can have ‘treatment holiday’ if no fractures for 18 months to 3 years
How do bisphosphonates work?
Interfere with osteoclast activity-> prevent resorption of bone (not replace lost bone)
What are some examples of bisphosphonates and how are they taken?
- Alendronate + risondronate-> PO + need to take on empty stomach then sit upright for 30 mins before moving or eating
- Zolendronic acid-> IV once yearly
What are the side effects of bisphosphonates?
- Reflux + oesophageal erosions
- Atypical fractures
- Osteonecrosis of the jaw + external auditory canal
What is osteomalacia?
Vitamin D deficiency leading to defective bone mineralisation and ‘soft’ bones
What is Rickets?
Vitamin D deficiency leading to defective bone mineralisation and ‘soft’ bones-> in kids + before growth plates close
What can cause Vitamin D deficiency + osteomalacia?
- Poor dietary intake
- Darker skin-> need longer sun exposure to get same level
- Malabsorption disorder (eg IBD)
- CKD as less metabolised in kidneys
What is the normal physiology and role of Vitamin D?
- Created from cholesterol by skin in response to UV radiation
- Metabolised in kidneys
- Needed to absorb calcium + phosphate from intestines + kidneys
- Regulates bone turnover + promotes bone reabsorption to boost serum calcium
What are the effects of low Vitamin D on blood components and bones?
- Low calcium and phosphate-> defective bone mineralisation
- Secondary hyperparathyroidism-> response to low calcium so tries to stimulate increased reabsorption from bones-> further mineralisation problems
How does osteomalacia present?
- Asymptomatic
- Fatigue
- Bone pain
- Muscle weakness + aches
- Pathological fractures
How is osteomalacia investigated?
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D-> <25nmol/L counts as diagnostic (25-50nmol/L is insufficiency)
- Low calcium, low phosphate, high ALP, high PTH
- X-ray-> osteopenia
- DEXA-> may have low BMD
How is osteomalacia treated?
- Vitamin D supplements-> high dose short term (eg 4000IU daily for 10 weeks) then maintenance of 800IU+ for life
- Insufficiency-> maintenance regime only
What is Paget’s disease of the bone?
Bone turnover excessive and unco-ordinated due to osteoclast and osteoblast activity balance
What is the pathophysiology of Paget’s disease of the bone?
- Bone turnover excessive and unco-ordinated due to osteoclast and osteoblast activity balance
- High (sclerosis) + low (lysis) density areas in patches
- Causes enlarged, misshapen bones that easily fracture
- Particularly axial skeleton (head + spine)
How does Paget’s disease of the bone present?
- Older adults
- Bone pain + deformity
- Fractures
- Hearing loss
What are the biochemical findings in Paget’s disease of the bone?
- Raised ALP
- Other LFTs normal
- Normal calcium + phosphate
What are the X-ray findings in Paget’s disease of the bone?
- Bone enlargement and deformity
- Osteoporosis circumscripta-> lytic lesions + well definted
- Cotton wool skull appearance-> sclerosis + lysis
- V-shaped defects in long bones-> osteolytic
How is Paget’s disease of the bone managed?
- Bisphosphonates
- NSAIDs for pain
- Calcium + Vitamin D
- Surgery
- Monitoring-> symptoms + ALP
What are the serious complications of Paget’s disease of the bone?
- Osteosarcoma
- Spinal stenosis (canal narrowing due to deformity)