Rheumatology Flashcards
What antibody is found in drug-induced lupus?
Anti-ANA (100%)
Anti-Histone (80-90%)
What skin features are seen in reactive arthritis?
Circinate balanitis (painless vesicles on the coronal margin of the prepuce)
Keratoderma blenorrhagica (waxy yellow/brown papules on palms and soles)
What are the symptoms of lateral epicondylitis?
Pain is worse on resisted wrist extension/suppination whilst elbow extended
What are the symptoms of medial epicondylitis?
aka Golfer’s elbow
Pain is worse on flexion and pronation of the wrist.
What should you do before giving bisphosphonates in osteomalacia?
Correct calcium levels
What is needed following a diagnosis with dermatomyositis?
Screening for malignancy as it can be found in 25% of patients, especially if they are older
In which condition are “pencil-in-cup” appearances seen on x-ray?
Psoriatic arthritis - you see distal interphalangeal joint pain and swelling + dactylitis
They are caused by periarticular erosions and bone resorption
What are rat-bite erosions (erosions with overhanging edges) associated with?
Gouty tophi
What are features of Behcet’s syndrome?
- classically: 1) oral ulcers 2) genital ulcers 3) anterior uveitis
- thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis
- arthritis
- neurological involvement (e.g. aseptic meningitis)
- GI: abdo pain, diarrhoea, colitis
- erythema nodosum
What are early and late x-ray changes of rheumatoid arthritis?
Early x-ray findings
* loss of joint space
* juxta-articular osteoporosis
* soft-tissue swelling
Late x-ray findings
* periarticular erosions
* subluxation
What are skin signs seen in dermatomyositis?
- macular rash over back and shoulder
- heliotrope rash in the periorbital region
- Gottron’s papules - roughened red papules over extensor surfaces of fingers
- ‘mechanic’s hands’: extremely dry and scaly hands with linear ‘cracks’ on the palmar and lateral aspects of the fingers
- nail fold capillary dilatation
What is used to manage acute flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis?
Glucocorticoids oral or injections such as methylprednisolone acetate and triamcinolone acetonide
According to NICE, what should you do for a patient over 65 years starting on long-term corticosteroids?
A bisphosphonate, such as alendronate, to prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis
In addition, ensuring adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D is important to support bone health
What are examination findings of ankylosing spondylitis?
- Reduced lateral flexion
- Reduced forward flexion
- Reduced chest expansion
What is antisynthetase syndrome?
Antisynthetase syndrome is caused by autoantibodies against aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase e.g. anti-Jo1.
It is characterised by
* myositis
* interstitial lung disease
* thickened and cracked skin of the hands (mechanic’s hands)
* Raynaud’s phenomenon
What are causes of primary hyperparathyroidism?
- Parathyroid adenoma (80%)
- Parathyroid hyperplasia (15%)
- Parathyroid carcinoma (1%)
How is vision affected in temporal arteritis?
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery (a branch of the ophthalmic artery) → ischaemia of the optic nerve head (swollen pale disc and blurred margins on fundoscopy)
What are the main features of polymyalgia rheumatica?
- typically patient > 60 years old
- usually rapid onset (e.g. < 1 month)
- aching, morning stiffness in proximal limb muscles
- also mild polyarthralgia, lethargy, depression, low-grade fever, anorexia, night sweats
*weakness is not considered a symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica
What is the main investigation finding of polymyalgia rheumatica?
Raised ESR
Creatinine kinase and EMG are normal
What is the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica?
Prednisolone e.g. 15mg/od
*Patients typically respond dramatically to steroids, failure to do so should prompt consideration of an alternative diagnosis
What is seen on x-ray in pseudogout?
Chondrocalcinosis (visible calcification of cartilage)