Rheumatology Flashcards
Give examples of alarm features in an individual presenting with back pain.
Aged over 50, constant pain, nocturnal pain, worse when lying flat, loss of sensation, weight loss, night sweats, fever, active/previous cancer, weakness and immunosuppression.
What are the five most common causes of back pain in those aged 15-30 years?
Mechanical back pain. Vertebral prolapse. Trauma. Ankylosing spondylitis. Pregnancy.
What are the three most common causes of back pain in those aged 30-50 years?
Degenerative disease.
Vertebral prolapse.
Malignancy.
What are the six most common causes of back pain in those aged over 50 years?
Degenerative disease. Osteoporosis. Pagets. Malignancy. Myeloma. Spinal stenosis.
What is the general management of back pain?
NSAIDs, paracetamol, physiotherapy, movement techniques and low-dose amitriptyline.
What is the pathophysiology of simple lower back pain?
Muscle strain causes spasms and temporary paralysis of the spinal area which results in pain.
What is osteoarthritis?
A degenerative condition characterised by the loss of cartilage at the synovial joints.
What is the most common type of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis.
What are risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis?
Obesity, increasing age, occupation (e.g. manual intense labour), female and family history.
What joints are typically affected in osteoarthritis?
Large, weight-bearing joints (hip, knee). Carpometacarpal joints (in the palm). Distal and proximal interphalangeal joints. Cervical spine.
What is the characteristic presentation of osteoarthritis?
Unilateral joint pain (ache) and stiffness without systemic upset.
Describe the stiffness associated with osteoarthritis.
Transient morning stiffness that lasts a few minutes.
What are the signs of osteoarthritis?
Joint line tenderness, limited range of movement, bony swelling, Heberden’s nodes and Bouchard’s nodes.
What radiological signs are found in patients with osteoarthritis?
Loss of joint space (narrowing). Osteophytes. Subchondral sclerosis. Subchondral cysts. (Remember: LOSS)
How is osteoarthritis managed?
Encourage weight loss and muscle strengthening exercises. Give paracetamol and topical NSAIDs first-line. Consider oral NSAIDs second-line - give with proton-pump inhibitor.
Intrarticular steroid injections if symptoms aren’t well managed and arthroplasty.
How is joint pain in osteoarthritis associated with activity?
Pain is provoked by movement and relieved by rest.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
A long-term autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa.
What is the characteristic presentation of rheumatoid arthritis?
Symmetrical distal polyarthropathy (painful, warm, swollen, stiff joints).
How is the joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis associated with rest/activity?
Pain is often worse after rest but improves with activity.
Describe the joint stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis.
Morning stiffness lasting at least thirty minutes.
What systemic features are associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
Fever and low energy.
What joints are most commonly affected in rheumatoid arthritis?
Proximal interphalangeal joints.
Metacarpophalangeal joints.
What signs of rheumatoid arthritis are found in the hands?
Z shaped deformity of the thumb.
Swan neck deformity.
Boutonnieres deformity.
Ulnar deviation of the fingers.
Give four examples of extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (excluding the eyes).
Pulmonary fibrosis.
Bronchiolitis obliterans.
Felty’s syndrome.
Secondary Sjogren’s syndrome.
Give three examples of ocular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes).
Episcleritis (painless, red).
Scleritis (severe pain, photophobia).
The presence of which two antibodies are used in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid factor.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody.
Rheumatoid arthritis: what is the difference in utility of investigations of rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibody?
Anti-CCP antibody are more sensitive and specific than RF and can be detected up to ten years before the development of RA.
Other than rheumatoid arthritis, give examples of three conditions in which rheumatoid factor may be raised.
Sjogren’s syndrome.
SLE.
Infective endocarditis.
What is first-line treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?
DMARD monotherapy (methotrexate or sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine).
Rheumatoid arthritis: What monitoring is required for individuals taking DMARDs?
FBC and LFT monitoring due to risk of myelosuppression and liver cirrhosis.
What is second-line treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?
Two DMARDs.
What is the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis following a failure to respond to two DMARDs?
Biologics - TNF-inhibitors such as etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab.
Describe the action of methotrexate.
Interferes with metabolism of folate and suppresses certain components of the immune system.
How often is methotrexate taken in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?
Once weekly.
What should be prescribed alongside methotrexate?
5mg folic acid taken on a different day to the methotrexate.
How should methotrexate use be managed during pregnancy?
Highly teratogenic - stop six months before conception in men and women.
What is psoriatic arthritis?
An inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis.
What % of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis?
10-20%.
Give examples of patterns of psoriatic arthritis.
Symmetrical polyarthritis.
Asymmetrical pauciarthritis.
Spondylitic pattern.
What are the presenting features of psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriasis plaques on skin, pitting of the nails, onycholysis (separation of nail from nail bed), dactylics (inflammation of finger), enthesisitis.
What are extra-articular features of psoriatic arthritis?
Conjuncitivitis, anterior uveitis, aortitis, amyloidosis.
What does x-ray reveal in psoriatic arthritis?
Periostitis, ankylosis, osteolysis, dactylitis and pencil-in-cup appearance.
What is the management of psoriatic arthritis?
NSAIDs for pain.
DMARDs (methotrexate, sulfasalazine).
Anti-TNF (etanercept, infliximab).
What is reactive arthritis?
A condition of synovitis in the joints in reaction to a recent infection trigger.
Reactive arthritis: What is the typical pattern of disease?
Acute monoarthritis typically affecting the lower limb and most often the knee.
What clinical features are associated with reactive arthritis?
Warm, swollen, painful joint.
Give examples of possible triggers of reactive arthritis
Gastroenteritis.
Sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhoea).
Give examples of extra-articular features associated with reactive arthritis.
Conjunctivits, anterior uveitis, urethritis, circinate balantitis.
Remember: can’t see, can’t pee, can’t climb a tree.
Reactive arthritis: What is circinate balantitis?
Dermatitis of the head of the penis.
What important differential diagnosis for reactive arthritis must be excluded in the management of this condition?
Septic arthritis.
How is reactive arthritis managed while investigations are pending?
Antibiotics given to treat potential septic arthritis.
How is reactive arthritis investigated // septic arthritis excluded?
Joint aspirate followed by gram-staining, cultures and sensitivities. Crystal examination can also be performed for investigation of gout/pseudogout.
What is the management of reactive arthritis after septic arthritis has been excluded?
NSAIDs.
Intrarticular steroid injections.
Systemic steroids may be required.
Name three conditions within the seronegative group of spondyloarthropathies.
Ankylosing spondylitis.
Reactive arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis.
The seronegative spondylorthropathy group of conditions are associated with what gene?
HLA B27.
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Inflammatory condition affecting the spine.
What joints are most often affected in ankylosing spondylitis?
Sacroiliac joints.
Vertebral column joints.
Ankylosing spondylitis typically affects what group of people?
Young males.
What is the characteristic presentation of ankylosing spondylitis?
Pain and stiffness in the lower back and sacroiliac pain in the buttock. Pain is worse at night and can wake from sleep.
How does rest/activity affect the pain associated with ankylosing spondylitis?
Pain improves with movement and worsens with rest.
Describe the joint stiffness associated with ankylosing spondylitis.
Morning stiffness lasting at least 30 minutes.
Describe how joint inflammation can progress in ankylosing spondylitis.
Progresses to fusion of the vertebral and sacroiliac joints.
What is the characteristic finding on spinal x-ray of someone with later stage ankylosing spondylitis?
Bamboo spine.
What are the features of a bamboo spine on x-ray?
Squaring of the vertebral bodies. Subchondral sclerosis. Subchondral erosions. Syndesmophytes. Ossification.