Rheumatology Flashcards
Tests in Rheumatology
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate, ESR)
- Distance that RBCs fall in 1 hour- cells aggregate and settle faster when inflammatory proteins are present (eg indection, inflammation,malignancy)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Acute-phase reactant, secreted by liver in response to inflammatory cyrokines
- High levels (>10) sensitive but nonspecific for inflammatory states
- Chronic low level elevation (1-10) associated with increased CV risk (high sensitivity or HS-CRP)
- Rheumatoid factor (RF)
- Antibodies (IgM) against Fc region of human IgG
- Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)
- Measures alterations to proteins in the setting of inflammation
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
- Antibodies to nuclear antigens (DNA, RNA, histone and other proteins)
- Antiphospholipid antibodies
- Phospholipid is a component of thrombosis
- Lupus anticoagulant
- Antibody w/prothrombotic effects in vivo but prolongs PTT in vitro
- Observed in patients with lupus, but can occur in patients w/o lupus
- Anticardiolipin antibody
- Lupus anticoagulant
- Phospholipid is a component of thrombosis
What does ESR mean?
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed-rate)
- Presence of inflammation causes an elevated rate of sedimentation of RBC
- Low ESR
- Polycythemia
- Leukocytosis
- Sickle cell
- Abnormal proteins
- High ESR
- Inflammation
- Infections
- Cancer
- Autoimmune
- Temporal arteritis
- Polymyalgia
- Rheumatica
- Low ESR
- Fibrin creates “sticky” cells which clump together and thus fall FASTER = increased rate of sedimentation
What does CRP (c-reactive protein) mean
- Acute phase of active inflammation
- Chronic low level elevation = assosiated with increased CV risk
- High level = sensitive for inflammatory state , NOT specific
True or false
CRP and ESR test for nonspecific inflammation
True
HIGH reading = inflammation
She is right about this potential association - but nothing she needs to worry about
OA vs RA
B- Rheumatoid arthritis
A- Erythrocyte sedimentaion rate (ESR)
C- Rheumatoid factor
None of the above
C- Arteriovenous nicking
Treatment of OA
Non-inflammatory
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Treatment of RA
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause retinal toxicity, at which dose is it considered high risk
>5mg/kg daily
Standard dose is 200mg BD
57yo female c/o bilateral central photopsias x 2years
- PMH = Sjogren’s syndrome and inflammatory arthritis
- Currently on prednisone and methotrexate
- H/o Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) x 10years, 200mg BID = 6.5mg/kg, stopped 1 year ago
RETINAL TOXICITY HIGH RISK = >5MG/KG DAILY
Recommendations on screening for Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy
- Screen for maculopathy with baseline eye exam at start of treatment, then annually starting 5 years after treatment initiation if patient is still taking the med and remains low-risk
- Higher risk- daily dose >5mg/kg, longer duration of treatment (>1000g cumulative dose), poor kidney function, tamoxifen, baseline macular disease (eg ARMD)
- Appropriate screening tools: SD-OCT imaging, HVF 10-2, mfERG
- Not approptiate: VA, colour vision, Amsler grig, fundus photos
- Asia populations will show loss within the arcades instead of around the macula
- Scan larger area with OCT
- 24-2 HVF instead of 10-2
C
Know GCA well
Ocular emergency
Permanent vision loss can be prevented with early disease recognition and proper management
In absence of frank AAION, good history and strong suspision are critical
Who gets GCA?
- Caucasians (of N.European descent) >>>>>> Hispanic and black
- Female > Male
- Age 50+
Symptoms of GCA
Questions to ask when considering GCA