Rheumatology Flashcards
bones affected in pagets
Paget’s disease of the bone generally affects the skull, spine/pelvis, and long bones of the lower extremities
bloods in pagets
raised alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
calcium and phosphate are typically normal. Hypercalcaemia may occasionally occur with prolonged immobilisation
management pagets
BISPHSPHONATES
if bone pain, skill or long bone deformity, fracture, periarticular pagets
bowing + bossing –> bisphosphonates
complications pagets
deafness (cranial nerve entrapment)
bone sarcoma (1% if affected for > 10 years)
fractures
skull thickening
high-output cardiac failure
flare of RA
corticosteroids - IM or PO
increased PTH
increases calcium
CKD and hyperparathroidism
Hypocalcaemia is a relatively common complication of chronic kidney disease. It is caused by the kidneys being unable to activate vitamin D and excrete phosphate, meaning calcium is ‘used up’ in calcium phosphate. This low level of calcium causes secondary hyperparathyroidism, where there is an increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) in order to try and raise calcium levels. It does this by stimulating osteoclast activity to release more calcium, and this activity causes a rise in ALP found in bone. Therefore, the overall blood results expected are raised phosphate (due to an inability to excrete it), raised PTH (due to a reaction to hypocalcaemia) and raised ALP (due to the action of PTH).
Low serum calcium, raised serum phosphate, raised ALP and raised PTH - chronic kidney disease leading to secondary hyperparathyroidism
osteoporosis bone profile
all normal
osteomalacia bone profile
low Ca, phophate
high ALT, PTH
who can certify someone as blind
Only consultant ophthalmologists (rather than GPs) are allowed by law to certify patients as legally blind or partially sighted in the UK
salter-harris
In paediatric practice, fractures may also involve the growth plate and these injuries are classified according to the Salter-Harris system (given below):
SALTeR is the one I was taught:
1- Straight *xray normal)
2- Above
3- Lower
4- Through everything
5- Rammed
As a general rule, it is safer to assume that growth plate tenderness is indicative of an underlying fracture even if the x-ray appears normal. Injuries of Types III, IV and V will usually require surgery. Type V injuries are often associated with disruption to growth.
patient with dementia without capcity should always be on..
a DOLS
bisphosohonates and CKD
contraindicated
Gout: irate lowering therapy
the British Society of Rheumatology Guidelines now advocate offering urate-lowering therapy to all patients after their first attack of gout
ULT is particularly recommended if:
>= 2 attacks in 12 months
tophi
renal disease
uric acid renal stones
prophylaxis if on cytotoxics or diuretics
(ALLOPURINOL)
tennis elbow - when is pain
TENnis elbow = pain on resisted exTENsion with elbow exTENded
methotrexate most common lung manifestation
pneumonitis
two interactions of metotrexate
avoid prescribing trimethoprim or co-trimoxazole concurrently - increases risk of marrow aplasia
high-dose aspirin increases the risk of methotrexate toxicity secondary to reduced excretion
what to always give with methotrexate
folic acid
Schirmer’s test
used to determine whether the eye produces enough tears to keep it moist
Rheumatology markers:
RA
Anti-CCP
ANCA
Vasculitides
Anti-Jo1
Polymyo/Dermatomyositis