Rheumatology Flashcards
Describe rheumatoid arthritis
Symmetrical synovial inflammation (synovitis) causing a polyarthritis
Chronic inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursa
Name two gene associations of RA
HLADR4 - often present
HLADR1 - occasionally present
Describe rheumatoid factor
Autoantibody present in 70% of RA patients
Targets the Fc portion of the IgG antibody
Causes activation of the immune system against the patients own IgG causing systemic inflammation
Describe cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies
Autoantibodies that are more sensitive and specific to rheumatoid arthritis than rheumatoid factor
Often predate the development of RA
Describe the presentation of Rheumatoid arthritis
Symmetrical distal polyarthropathy
Joint pain, swelling and stiffness of the small joints of hands and feet, wrist, ankle, MCP and PIP, knees, shoulders and elbows
Systemic symptoms - fatigue, weight loss, flu like illness, muscle aches and weakness
Pain is worse after rest
Describe palindromic Rheumatism
Self limtiing short episodes of inflammatory arthritis with joint pain, stiffness and swelling typically only affecting a few joints
Lasts 1-2 days and then completely resolves
Having positive antibodies indicates it may progress into RA
Which condition involves painful and swollen DIP joints
Osteoarthritis
Name some signs you may see in the hands of someone with RA
Z shape deformity of the thumb - IP and CMC flexion with MP hyperextension
Swan neck - Hyperextension of the PIP joint and flexion of the DIP
Boutonnieres deformity - hyperextension of the DIP joints and flexion of the PIP
Ulnar deviation of the fingers at the MCP joints
Palpation of the synovium in around joints when disease is active will give a body feeling related to the inflammation and swelling
List some extra-articular manifestations of RA
Pulmonary fibrosis Bronchiolitis obliterans Feltys syndrome Secondary Sjogren's - sicca syndrome Anaemia of chronic disease Cardiovascular diseaase Episcleritis and scleritis Rheumatoid nodules Lymphadenopathy Carpal tunnel syndrome Amyloidosis
List the investigations for rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid factor
If RF negative, check anti-CCP antibodies
Inflammatory markers such as CRP and ESR
X-ray of hands and feet
Ultrasound scan of the joints can be used to evaluate and confirm synovitis
Describe the Xray changes in RA
Joint destruction and swelling
Soft tissue swelling
Bony erosions
What is the American college of rheumatology diagnosis of RA based on
The joints that are involved - more and smaller score higher
Serology - RF and anti-CCP
Inflammatory markers - CRP and ESR
Duration of symptoms - more/less than 6 weeks
Scores are added and a score greater than 6 indicates a diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis
Describe a DAS28 score
Assessment of 28 joints
Points are given for swollen joints, tender joints and ESR/CRP result
Useful in monitoring disease activity and response to treatment
Describe features which indicate a worse prognosis for RA
Younger onset Make More joints and organs affected Antibodies Erosions
Describe the management of Rheumatoid arthritis
MDT
Short course of steroids at initial presentation and during flares
NSAIDs/COX2i (coxibs) but risk GI bleeding so either avoided or prescribed with PPI
Monotherapy with methotrexate, leflunomide or sulfalazine, hydroxychloroquine may be considered in mild disease
2nd line - any 2 of the above combination of DMARDs
3rd line - methotrexate and a biological therapy (TNFi)
4th line - methotrexate plus rituximab
Surgery in very severe joint deformity
Which rheumatoid drugs are safe in pregnancy
Sulfalazine and hydroxychloroquine
Pregnancy improves RA symptoms - natural production of steroid hormones
Describe how rituximab works
Antibody which binds to the CD20 portion of B cells
How does methotrexate work
Interferes with folate metabolism and suppresses certain components of the immune system
What is prescribed with methotrexate
Folic acid 5mg taken once a week on a different day to the methotrexate
List some side effects of methotrexate
Mouth ulcers and mucositis
Bone marrow suppression
Liver toxicity
Teratogenic - also avoid before conception
Describe the mechanism of action of leflunomide
Immunosuppressant by interfering with pyrimidine which is needed for RNA/DNA
List some side effects of leflunomide
Mouth ulcers/mucositis Hypertension Rash Peripheral neuropathy Teratogenic Bone marrow suppression Liver toxicity
Give the side effects of sulfalazine
Temporary male infertility
Bone marrow suppression
How does hydroxychloroquine work
Immunosuppressant which interferes Toll like receptors, disrupting antigen presentation and increasing the pH of the lysosomes of the immune cells
List some notable side effects of hydroxychloroquine
Nightmares
Reduced visual acuity
Liver toxicity
Skin pigmentation
How do anti-TNF drugs work
Block TNF which normally stimulates inflammation
List some side effects of anti-TNF drugs
Vulnerability to severe infection and sepsis
Reactivation of TB and hep B
List some side effects of rituximab
Vulnerability to severe infection and sepsis Night sweats Thrombocytopenia Peripheral neuropathy Liver and lung toxicity
What does joint aspiration in rheumatoid arthritis show
High WBC count - polymorphonuclear neutrophils
Yellow, cloudy
Absence of crystals
Describe psoriatic arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis
Seronegative spondyloarthropathy
Describe a symmetrical polyarthritis pattern of psoriatic arthritis
Presents similarly to RA and more common in women
Hand, wrists, ankles and DIP joints are affected
Describe an asymmetrical pauciarthrits pattern of psoriatic arthritis
Mainly the digits and feet
Few joints
Describe the spondylitic pattern of psoriatic arthritis
Back stiffness Sacroiliitis Atlanto-axial joint involvement Spine Achilles tendon Plantar fascia
Describe some signs of psoriatic arthritis
Plaques of psoriasis on skin
Pitting of the nails
Onycholysis - separation of the nail from the nail bed
Dactylitis - inflammation of the full finger
Enthesitis - inflammation where points of tendons insert onto bone
Eye disease - conjunctivitis and anterior uveitis
Aortitis
Amyloidosis
Describe a PEST (psorisasis epidemiogical screening tool)
Several questions about joint pain Swelling History of arthritis Nail pitting High score triggers referral to rheumatologist
List the X-ray changes of psoriasis
Periostitis - inflammation of the periosteum - irregular outline of bone
Anklyosis - bones join together causing stiffening
Osteolysis - destruction of bone
Dactylitis - inflammation of the whole digit which shows as soft tissue swelling
Pencil in cup - central erosion of the bone besides the joints
Describe arthritis mutilans
Most severe form of psoriatic arthritis
Occurs in the phalanxes
Osteolysis of the bones around the joints in the digits
Leads to progressive shortening of the digit
Skin then folds as the digit shortens giving appearance of telescopic finger
Describe the management of psoriatic arthritis
NSAIDs for pain
DMARDs - methotrexate, leflunomide or sulfasalazine
Anti-TNF medications
Ustekinumab - IL 12 and 23 monoclonal antibody
Describe reactive arthritis
Synovitis occurring in joints as a reaction to a recent infective trigger
Acute monoarthritis
Seronegative spondyloarthropathy - HLAB27 link
Bilateral conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, urethritis, keratoderma blenorrhagica (waxy yellow/brown papules on palms and soles) and balanitis may occur
What are the two most common infections that trigger reactive arthritis
Gastroenteritis
STI - chlamydia or gonorrhoea
Describe the management of reactive arthritis
Exclude septic arthritis
Aspirate and send for gram staining, culture and sensitivity plus crystal examination
NSAIDs
Intraarticular steroid injections
Oral steroids if multiple joints affected
Most resolve within 6 months and don’t recur
Recurrent cases may need DMARDs and anti-TNF medications
What is found in synovial fluid aspirate in reactive arthritis
Sterile synovial fluid with high WCC
Describe ankylosing spondylitis
Inflammatory condition affecting the spine that causes progressive stiffness and pain
Seronegative spondyloarthropathy - HLA B27 gene
Slow onset >3 months
Lower back pain and stiffness with sacroiliac pain in the buttock, pain and stiffness is worse with rest and improves with movement
Pain is worse at night and in the morning. Takes at least 30 minutes for the stiffness to improve in the morning and gets progressively better with activity throughout the day
Fluctuate with flares of worsening symptoms and other periods where symptoms improve
Vertebral fractures are a key complication
Which joints are affected in ankylosing spondylitis
Sacroiliac joints
Vertebral column joints
List some associated symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
Systemic - fatigue and weight loss Chest pain - costovertebral and costosternal joints Enthesitis - plantar fascitis and Achilles tendonitis Dactylitis Anaemia Anterior uveitis Aortitis Hear block Restrictive lung disease Pulmonary fibrosis IBD
Describe a test on clinical examination to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis
Schober’s test
Have patient stand straight and find the L5 vertebrae - mark 10cm above and 5cm below it. Get patient to bend over and measure the distance between these points. If <20cm then this is restricted lumbar movement
What investigations can be done for ankylosing spondylitis
Inflammatory markers - CRP/ESR
HLA B27
X-ray spine and sacrum
MRI of the spine - bone marrow oedema
Describe the X-ray changes of ankylosing spondylitis
Bamboo spine
Squaring of the vertebral bodies
Subchondral sclerosis and erosion
Syndesmophyte - areas of bone growth where the ligaments insert into the bone. They occur related to the ligaments supporting the intervertebral joints
Ossification of the ligaments, discs and joints
Fusion of the facet, sacroiliac and costovertebral joints
Describe the management of ankylosing spondylitis
NSAIDs - 2-4 weeks for maximum dose then consider switching to another NSAID
Steroids - flares to control symptoms
Anti-TNF medications - etanercept or monoclonal antibody against TNF such as infliximab, adalimumab or certolizumab pegol
Secukinumab - monoclonal antibody against IL 17
Additional management - physiotherapy, exercise and mobilisation, avoid smoking, bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis, treatment of complications, surgery is occasionally required for deformities of the spine
Describe systemic lupus erythematosus
Inflammatory autoimmune connective tissue disease
Relapsing remitting course
Chronic inflammation
Anti-nuclear antibodies - antibodies to proteins within own cells nucleus cause activation of the immune system to the body and generates an inflammatory response
How does SLE present
Non-specific symptoms
Fatigue Weight loss Arthralgia Myalgia Fever Photosensitive malar rash - butterfly shaped rash across the nose and cheek bones which spares the nasolabial folds and gets worse with sunlight Lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly Pleuritic chest pain SOB Mouth ulcers Hair loss Raynaud's phenomenon
Describe the investigations for SLE
Autoantibodies - ANA and anti-double stranded DNA, antiphospholipid antibodies may be seen in antiphospholipid syndrome secondary to SLE
FBC - normocytic anaemia of chronic disease
C3 and C4 levels - reduced as inflammation uses up complement
CRP/ESR - raised
Immunoglobulins - raised due to activation of B cells with inflammation
Urinalysis and urine protein: creatinine ratio for proteinuria in lupus nephritis
Renal biopsy - lupus nephritis
What is needed for an SLE diagnosis
SLICC or ACR criteria - confirm ANA presence and establish a number of clinical features suggestive of SLE
List some complications of SLE
CVD - HTN and CAD Anaemia of chronic disease Infection Pericarditis Pleuritic chest pain Lupus nephritis Neuropsychiatric SLE - optic neuritis, transverse myelitis and psychosis Recurrent miscarriage VTE
What is the first line treatment for SLE
NSAIDs
Steroids
Hydroxychloroquine (treatment of choice)
Sun cream and sun avoidance - photosensitive malar rash
What can be used in resistant SLE
Methotrexate Mycophenolate mofetil Azathioprine Tacrolimus Leflunomide Ciclosporin
What is given to patients with severe SLE and those non responsive to other treatment
Biological therapies - monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab and belimumab (targets B cell activating factor)
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is SLE
Type 3 - autoimmune reaction - antigen-antibody complexes
Which autoantibody is most specific for SLE
anti-dsDNA
Which autoantibody is most sensitive for SLE
ANA
How does hydroxychloroquine work
DMARD
Anti-lysosomal - stops lysosomes from working
Describe discoid lupus erythematosus
Non-cancerous skin condition
More common in young women and darker skinned people and smokers
May develop into SLE or SCC