Rheumatology Flashcards
pain pattern of osteoarthritis
worse on activity
worse at the end of the day
relieved by rest
morning stiffness <30 mins and inactivity gelling
ix osteoarthritis
Xray
- loss of joint space
- osteophytes
- subchondral sclerosis
- subchondral cysts
non pharm treatment osteoarthritis
weight loss
exercise
physio
walking aids
1st line treatment osteoarthritis
1st line paracetamol + topical NSAID
2nd line treatment osteoarthritis
oral NSAID + PPI opioids capsaicin cream intra-articular steroid arthroplasty
is rheumatoid arthritis symmetrical or asymmetrical
symmetrical
pain pattern of rheumatoid arthritis
pain worse in the morning
pain better with activity and worse with rest
substantial morning stiffness, lasting hours, wears off with movement
main joints affected in rheumatoid arthritis
small joints of hands and feet - MCP and PIP
NOT DIP
what is felty’s syndrome
rheumatoid arthritis
splenomegaly
neutropenia
ix rheumatoid arthritis
xray
serology
usually clinical diagnosis
xray of rheumatoid arthritis
periarticular osteopenia
soft tissue swelling
reduced joint space
periarticular erosions
serology of rheumatoid arthritis
RF
more specific - Anti CCP (anti-cyclic cirtullinated peptide antibody)
thrombocytosis and moderate neurotrophilia
1st line ix for rheumatoid arthritis
RF
1st line treatment rheumatoid arthritis
DMARD monotherapy +/- short course of prednisolone
first line DMARD in rheumatoid arthritis
methotrexate
what needs to be monitored regularly with methotrexate
LFTs
FBC
U+E
before treatment and every 2-3 months
treatment of rheumatoid arthritis if inadequate response to 2 DMARDs, one of which was methotrexate. and a high DAS28 > 5.1
anti-TNF e.g. etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab
co-prescribed with methotrexate
tx flare of rheumatoid arthritis
steroids
monitoring rheumatoid arthritis
DAS28 and CRP
tx palindromic rheumatoid arthritis
hydroxychloroquine
important side effect of hydroxychloroquine
retinopathy - baseline ophthalmology examination and annual screening required
pain pattern of ank spond
progressive lower back pain
radiates to bum
marked morning stiffness and improves with exercise, better throughout the day
pain at night
1st line ix in ank spond
plain X ray of SI joints
ix if xray negative for ank spond but high suspicion
MRI
1st line tx ank spond
NSAIDs
encourage regular exercise e.g. swimming
tx peripheral joint disease in ank spond
sulfasalazine
tx non-responsive pain and stiffness in ank spond
anti-TNF
nail changes seen in psoriatic arthritis
pitting
onycholysis
subungal hyperkeratosis
ix psoriatic arthritis
Xray
- pencil in cup
tx mild peripheral psoriatic arthritis
NSAIDs
tx progressive psoriatic arthritis
methotrexate
anti-TNF if no response
ustekinumab, secukinumab
when is reactive arthritis seen
1-4 weeks after infection usually gastroenteritis or STI
most common site of reactive arthritis
knee
ix reactive arthritis
joint aspirate to rule out septic arthritis
STI test
tx reactive arthritis
self limiting
rest and NSAIDs
steroids if needed
lifestyle factors that increase change of gout
alcohol
red meat, kidney liver
oily fish
lose weight
stop thiazides
most common joint in gout
1st MTP
ix for gout
blood urate levels checked once episode has settled
joint aspiration with polarised light microscopy - needle shaped negatively birefringent crystals (also checked for septic arthritis)
Xray
tx acute gout 1st line
NSAID
2nd line acute gout treatment if NSAID not tolerated
colchicine
3rd line acute gout treatment
steroids
1st line urate lowering therapy after 1st attack of gout
allopurinol - don’t start during acute flare but if already taking then continue through flare
2nd line urate lowering therapy gout
febuxostat
precribing urate lowering therapy key points
start 2-4 weeks after acute attack
when starting, give cover with colchicine as risk of acute attack
what drug can allopurinol not be given with
azathioprine
joint aspirate of pseudogout
positively birefringent rhomboid shaped crystals
joints often affected in pseudogout
knee wrist shoulder
xray of pseudogout
chondrocalcinosis
tx pseudogout
1st line - NSAIDs +/- steroids
2nd line - colchicine
3rd - steroids
no prophylactic treatment
type of hypersensitivity in SLE
3
rash of SLE
malar rash that spares the nasolabial folds
photosensitivity
ix SLE
urinalysis - look for glomerulonephritis
bloods - FBC, U+E, ESR
immunology
BP and cholesterol (CVD risk)
immunology of SLE
Anti-ANA (sensitive not specific)
RF
Anti-dsDNA (specific)
Anti-smith (Sm) (specific)
(can also see anti-Ro, Anti-La and anti-RNP)
markers of disease activity of SLE
anti-DsDNA
complement - inversely
tx SLE mild skin disease and arthralgia
hydroxychloroquine
Nsaids, topical steroids
tx moderate SLE
immunosuppression - methotrexate, azathoiprine, mycophenolate
oral steroids
tx SLE severe organ disease
IV prednisolone and cyclophosphamide
tx SLE unresponsive cases
IV immunoglobulin and rituximab
flare of SLE
steroids
most common cause of drug induced lupus
hydralazine