Rheumatology Flashcards
Gout primarily affects the ________ joint or ________ joint but may involve the _______ joint as well.
first metatarsal
ankle
knee
The knee joint is the most common joint affected in which pathologies? (4)
bacterial infection, Lyme disease, pseudogout, and traumatic causes
Disseminated gonorrhea:
- initial syndrome?
- skin lesions?
- other MSK finding?
- gram stain/cultures?
- Tx?
initial syndrome: fever and migratory polyarthralgia.
Skin lesions: on the extremities; begin as small papules and quickly become pustular with a necrotic center.
Other: Tenosynovitis, usually in the tendons of the hands and fingers.
Gram stain: Gram stain and synovial cultures are often negative.
Treatment: ceftriaxone.
Fever and mono articular arthritis DDx (3)
bacterial infection
gout
rheumatologic disease
Gout crystal appearance
needle-shaped, negatively birefringent crystals
Pseudogout crystal appearance
rhomboid, weakly positive birefringence
Radiographs of the affected joint may show ____________ in pseudogout
chondrocalcinosis
Gout often occurs in the ________ or _______ joint.
__________ (6) increase risk for gout.
Treatment consists of ________ (4).
first metatarsal, ankle
diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, alcohol intake, and thiazide use
NSAIDs or colchicine (acute), allopurinol or probeniecid (recurrent gout)
Arthrocentesis leukocyte counts: in cells/mm3
- Normal fluid
- Noninflammatory (e.g., osteoarthritis)
- Mild to moderate inflammation (rheumatologic, crystalline)
- Severe inflammation (sepsis or gout)
- Sepsis until proven otherwise
Under 200 - Normal fluid
Under 2000 - Noninflammatory (e.g., osteoarthritis)
2000 to 50,000 - Mild to moderate inflammation (rheumatologic, crystalline)
50,000 to 100,000 - Severe inflammation (sepsis or gout)
Over 100,000 - Sepsis until proven otherwise
In patients with back pain, important “red flags” to obtain from the history are _________ (5)
past history of malignancy, fever, weight loss, bladder or bowel dysfunction, and “saddle anesthesia.”
Fever associated with back pain raises the suspicion of _______. (2)
osteomyelitis or epidural abscess
The evaluation of low back pain is focused on two key aspects: _________.
evidence of systemic disease and evidence of nerve compression
Low back pain DDx (13; 3 groups)
1 Musculoskeletal causes: Musculoligamentous injury Herniated intervertebral disk Spinal stenosis Vertebral compression fracture Spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis
2 Systemic causes: Malignancy (most commonly metastasis from breast, lung, prostate, kidney carcinoma, or multiple myeloma) Vertebral osteomyelitis Epidural abscess Spondyloarthropathy
3 Referred pain: Aortic dissection or aneurysm Pyelonephritis or nephrolithiasis Prostatitis Pancreatic carcinoma or pancreatitis
2 most common places where disk herniation occurs; findings to help tell them apart
L4 to L5 level = L5 nerve root; pain radiates to Anterolateral leg and great toe; deficient Dorsiflexion (ankle and great toe)
L5 to S1 = S1 nerve root; Pain radiates to Posterior leg and lateral toes; deficient Plantar flexion (ankle) and Decreased ankle reflex
Imaging for lower back pain: Patients at risk for compression fractures or malignancy should receive _________; _______ should be reserved for selected patients (eg suspected cauda equina syndrome)
a lumbar spine film
MRI
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a symmetric inflammatory peripheral polyarthritis characterized by ___________ and __________.
lymphocytic infiltration of the synovial joints
granulomatous extra-articular nodules
Analysis of synovial tissue in RA reveals high levels of _______ (2) and blockade of their effects has an important role in RA treatment.
TNF-α and IL-1 (These factors upregulate the production of metalloproteinases, which are believed to be responsible for joint destruction.)
Treatment of RA consists of analgesia and early institution of DMARDS such as _________ (4).
_______ are useful adjuncts for refractory cases but increase risk for infection.
methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, or hydroxychloroquine
Biologic agents (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept, anakinra, Rituximab, Abatacept)
Extra-articular manifestations of RA include ___________ (4).
Associated conditions include __________ (2).
rheumatoid nodules (subQ, nontender, extensors), pleural effusions, vasculitis, and Felty syndrome (rheumatoid nodules, splenomegaly, and leukopenia)
atlantoaxial subluxation and Baker cysts
Conditions that may have a positive rheumatoid factor in the absence of rheumatoid arthritis (6)
Older age
Other autoimmune diseases (SLE, sarcoid, etc.)
Infective endocarditis
Liver disease (especially hepatitis C)
Chronic infections (syphilis, leprosy, parasites)
Hyperglobulinemic states
Criteria for Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (7) and number of criteria required for Dx
Morning stiffness of joints >1 hr for at least 6 wk
Arthritis (soft tissue swelling) of three or more joints for at least 6 wk
Arthritis includes wrist, metacarpophalangeal, or proximal intraphalangeal joints
Arthritis is symmetric
Rheumatoid nodules
Elevated serum rheumatoid factor
Hand or wrist films showing erosions or periarticular osteopenia
(Four or more criteria are necessary for definite diagnosis.)
RF is positive in 70% to 80% of patients with RA. RF is not a specific test, and false positives occur ; Antibodies to ________ are more specific but this test is not included in the criteria for Dxing RA.
citrulline-containing proteins (anti-CCP)
The seronegative spondyloarthropathies are an interrelated group of inflammatory disorders affecting the ________ (3).
The spondyloarthropathies include: (4)
Which one is associated with IBD?
spine, joints, and periarticular structures
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
Psoriatic arthritis
Enteropathic arthritis (associated with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD])
Reactive arthritis
Patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies have an increased incidence of HLA _______ and are seronegative for ______ (2).
B-27
rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies
Complications in ankylosing spondylitis include: (4)
spinal fractures, atlantoaxial subluxation, aortic insufficiency, and cardiac conduction disease.
Reactive arthritis can occur after which infections? (2)
infectious diarrhea or urethritis (1-3 wks after)
Spondyloarthropathy should be suspected in ________ (young/old) patients complaining of _________ (2). Peripheral arthritis often appears as “___________.” Which organ is also usually affected?
younger individuals complaining of back pain with stiffness or asymmetric lower extremity arthritis.
sausage digits (reactive and psoriatic arthritis)
Eye involvement (conjunctivitis or uveitis) is also a key feature.
Radiograph features of ankylosing spondylitis include: (3)
Sacroiliitis (erosions of iliac bone lead to “pseudowidening” of the joint, followed by sclerosis and obliteration)
Squaring of vertebrae on lateral view of the spine
“Bamboo spine” - Ossification of ligaments between vertebral bodies
First-line therapy in the spondyloarthropathies is ________ (2).
_________ are generally not effective/recommended.
First line: NSAIDs, usually indomethacin.
In refractory cases, sulfasalazine (preferred in enteropathic arthritis since NSAIDs have been associated with IBD flares).
Glucocorticoids = not effective/recommended.
Spondyloarthropathies with M>F incidence (2)
Ankylosing spondylitis
Reactive arthritis
Spondyloarthropathy with infrequent spinal involvement (1)
Enteropathic arthritis
Skin involvement in each of the 4 spondyloarthropathies (names of assoc skin lesions in each)
Ankylosing Spondylitis: None
Reactive Arthritis: Circinate balanitis, keratoderma
Psoriatic Arthritis: Psoriatic plaques, nail pitting
Enteropathic Arthritis: Erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum
Natural history (chronic, etc) for each of the 4 spondyloarthropathies
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Chronic
Reactive Arthritis: Self-limiting (75%)
Psoriatic Arthritis: Chronic
Enteropathic Arthritis: Peripheral arthritis flares with bowel disease; spinal disease chronic
List of connective tissue diseases (6):
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma Polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) Sjögren syndrome Mixed connective-tissue disorder (MCTD) Rheumatoid arthritis
African Americans have a _____fold risk of SLE compared to whites. Deficiencies of complements _____ (3) increase the risk of SLE.
Fourfold
C1, C2, or C4
Many CTDs are associated with inheritance of _________ alleles. These gene products are important in the presentation of antigens to the immune system, so abnormalities may result in the production of __________; they _________ (are/are not) required for the development of disease.
particular MHC class II autoantibodies (most often against nuclear components) Are not
Pathogenesis in connective tissue disease (4 groups)
- Immune complex deposition: eg SLE, Circulating immune complexes deposit in the kidney (glomerulonephritis) or in skin.
- Vascular damage: may resemble primary vasculitides; due to abnormal immune responses.
- Overproduction and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components: eg systemic sclerosis
- Altered immune responses: predispose to viruses and encapsulated bacteria.
Key pathology in systemic sclerosis
Following vascular damage, deposition of collagen and other components of the ECM can occur. This is a key pathologic feature of systemic sclerosis and results in fibrosis of the skin and other organs.