Rheumatology Flashcards
What antibodies is SLE characterised by?
Anti-nuclear antibodies
(alsoAnti-double stranded DNA - specific to SLE)
What are the symptoms of SLE:
Hair loss
Photosensitive malar rash
SOB
Splenomegaly
Joint pain
Lymphadenopathy
Myalgia
Fever
Weight loss
Fatigue
What is the leading cause of death in SLE?
Cardiovascular disease (chronic inflammation in the blood vessels leads to hypertension)
What are the first line treatments for SLE?
NSAIDS
Steroids
Hydroxychloroquine
What is discoid lupus erythematosus?
Non cancerous chronic skin condition, associated with an increased risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus
DLE risk factors
Female
Young
Dark skin
Smoker
What is the treatment for DLE?
Topical steroids
Intralesional steroid injections
Hydroxychloroquine
Suncream
What is systemic sclerosis
autoimmune inflammatory and fibrotic connective tissue disease
What are the features of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (i.e. CREST)?
C - calcinosis
R - Raynaud’s
E - oesophageal dysmotility
S - sclerodactyly
T- telagiectasia
What is the difference between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis?
Diffuse also affects the CVS system, lungs and kidneys
What antibodies are most associated with systemic sclerosis?
ANA
Anti-centromere antibodies - limited cutaneous
Anti-Scl-70 antibodies - diffuse cutaneous
What is nail fold capillaroscopy
Looks at the health of the peripheral capillaries - used to exclude systemic sclerosis in patients with Raynaud’s
What is poly myalgia rheumatica strongly associated with?
Giant cell arteritis
What are the main features in PMR?
Shoulder girdle pain and stiffness
Neck Pain
Pelvic girdle pain and stiffness
What is the key investigation for diagnosing polymyositis?
Creatine Kinase, should be under 300 but in polymyositis it is often in the 1000s
What are the causes of a raised creatine kinase?
Rhabdomyolysis
AKI
MI
Statins
Strenuous exercise
What malignancy can cause polymyositis?
Lung, breast, ovarian, gastric
What are the symptoms of polymyositis?
Muscle pain
Fatigue
Weakness
Bilateral, proximal muscles (pelvic and shoulder girdle)
Develops over weeks
What are the features of dermatomyositis?
Gottron lesions (scaly erythematous patches) on the knuckles, elbows and knees
Photosensitive erythematous rash on the back, shoulders and neck
Purple rash on the face and eyelids
Periorbital oedema
Subcutaneous calcinosis
What antibodies are associated with poly and dermatomyositis?
Anti-Jo-1
Anti-Mi-2
Anti-nuclear
How do you diagnose polymyositis?
Creatine kinase, autoantibodies, clinical presentation, EMG
Definitive: Muscle biopsy
What is the complication of anti-phospholipid syndrome?
Hyper-coagulable state -> thrombosis
Recurrent miscarriage
What antibodies are associated with APS?
Lupus anticoagulant
Anticardiolipid antibodies
Anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I antibodies
What is Lived reticular?
Purple lace like rash in APS
What is Libmann-Sacks endocarditis?
Non-bacterial endocarditis
Associated with SLE and APS
What is the management for APS?
Long term warfarin, INR range of 2-3
Pregnant women: LMWH plus aspirin (NOT WARFARIN)
What is Behçet’s disease?
Recurrent oral and genital ulcers
Complex inflammatory condition: can affect lots of areas
What gene is Behçet’s linked to?
HLA B51
How can Behçets affect the eyes?
Anterior or posterior uveitis
Retinal vasculitis
Retinal haemorrhage
How can Behçet’s affect the MSK system?
Morning stiffness
Arthralgia
Oligoarthritis (swelling without joint destruction)
How can Behçet’s affect the CNS?
Memory impairment
Headaches and migraines
Aseptic meningitis
Meningoencephalitis
What is the key investigation in Behçet’s?
Pathergy test
Sterile needle creates a subcutaenous abrasion on the forearm
Review in 24-48 hours - any weal greater than 5mm?
If positive and skin is hypersensitive: it is positive in Behçet’s, Sweet’s syndrome and pyoderma gangrenosum
What is the management for Behçet’s?
Steroids (topical or systemic)
Colchicine
Topical anaesthetics
Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine
Biologic therapy such as infliximab
What crystals form in pseudo gout?
Calcium pyrophosphate crystals
What is seen in aspirated fluid in pseudo gout?
Calcium pyrophosphate crystals
Rhomboid shaped crystals
Positive birefringent of polarised light
What are the joint X-ray changes in pseudo gout? (LOSS)
Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Subarticular sclerosis
Subchondral cysts
What is Paget’s disease of the bone?
Excessive bone turnover due to excessive activity of both osteoclasts and osteoblasts
This is uncoordinated, so: patchy areas of high density (sclerosis) and low density (lysis)
Enlarged and misshapen bones with structural problems
What bones does Paget’s particularly affect?
Axial skeleton
How does Paget’s disease of the bone present?
Bone pain
Bone deformity
Fractures
Hearing loss can occur if it affects the bones of the ear
What is osteoporosis circumscripta?
Well defined osteolytic lesions that appear less dense compared with normal bone
What does cotton wool appearance of the skull imply?
Paget’s disease of the bone: poorly defined patchy areas of sclerosis and lysis
What are V-shaped defects in the long bones suggestive of?
Paget’s disease of the bone: V-shaped osteolytic bone lesions within healthy bone
What do you see on blood tests in Paget’s disease of the bone?
Raised alkaline phosphatase
Normal calcium
Normal phosphate
How do you manage Paget’s disease of the bone?
Bisphosphonates
What are the two main complications of Paget’s disease of the bone?
Osteogenic sarcoma
Spinal stenosis and spinal cord compression
What are the four key x-ray changes in osteoarthritis?
LOSS mnemonic:
Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Subarticular sclerosis
Subchondral cysts
What are the main signs of osteoarthritis?
Heberden’s nodes
Bouchard’s nodes
Squaring at CMC joint
Weak grip
Reduced range of motion
What type of joint is the carpometacarpal joint?
saddle joint
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Pain and stiffness in classic joints, worse on activity and no morning stiffness
What is the common gene associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
HLA DR4