Rheumatology Flashcards
A woman > 50 y/o presents with at least 6 weeks of symmetrical joint pain and morning stiffness involving multiple joints of the hands and lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning most likely suffers from ..
Rheumatoid arthritis
What are 8 possible criteria for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis? (of which you only need 4)
- morning stiffness lasting more than 1 hour
- wrist and finger involvment (PIP, MCP)
- swelling of at least 3 joints (except sacroilliac)
- symmetrical
- presence of rheumatoid nodule
- X-ray abnormalities showing erosions
- positive rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-CCP
- elevated C-reaction protein (CRP) or ESR
What is the single most accurate test for rheumatoid arthritis?
Anti- cyclic citrulinated peptide (anti-CCP)
A pt presenting with rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly and neutropenia most likely suffers from …
Felty’s syndrome
What is the most important step in management prior to intubating a pt with rheumatoid arthritis?
check for C1/C2 cervical spine subluxation
…. is flexion of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint with hyperextension of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint
Boutonniere deformity
associated with rheumatoid arthritis
… is extension of the proximal interphalageal (PIP) joint with flexion of the distal interphalageal (DIP) joint
Swan neck deformity
associated with rheumatoid arthritis
What are the 4 criteria involved in the new alternate diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis?
- synovitis (can be single joint)
- positive rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-CCP
- elevated ESR or CRP (C-reactive protein)
- prolonged duration (>6 weeks)
What is the characterisitic hematologic finding in rheumatoid arthritis?
normocytic, normochromic anemia
What are the initial steps in management of a suspected rheumatoid arthritis pt? (7)
- X-rays (erosions)
- Rheumatoid factor
- anti-CCP
- CBC (anemia)
- ESR
- CRP (C-reactive protein)
- aspiration of joint (if effusion present)
What is the best initial therapy for rheumatoid arthritis?
NSAIDs with methotrexate (a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug- DMARD)
What are the adverse side effects of methotrexate?
- bone marrow suppression
- pneumonitis
- liver disease
What is the next best step in management of a pt with rheumatoid arthritis in which NSAIDs and methotrexate have not been successful?
add biologic agents (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept block TNF)
What is an adverse side effect of using hydroxycholorquine (type of DMARD)?
retinopathy (pt will require regular eye exams)
What is an adverse side effect of using sulfasalazine (type of DMARD)?
bone marrow suppresion
What is the mechanism of action of rituximab (alternate DMARD)?
anti-CD20 antibody
What is the mechanism of action of anakinra (alternate DMARD)?
IL-1 receptor antagonist
What is the mechanism of action of tocilizumab (alternate DMARD)?
IL-6 receptor antagonist (added to methotrexate if needed)
What is the mechanism of action of leflunomide (alternate DMARD)?
pyrimidine antagonist (less toxic than methotrexate)
What is the mechanism of action of abatacept (alternate DMARD)?
inhibits T-cell activation
What is the major side effect of gold salts (used as alternate DMARD)?
nephrotic syndrome
An acutely ill rheumatoid arthritis pt with severe inflammation should receive what other medication other than NSAIDs and a DMARD as initial therapy?
steroids such as prednisone (bridge to DMARD therapy; allow time for DMARD to take effect)
A young male pt (
Ankylosing Spondylitis
also associated with uveitis, aortitis, restrictive lung disease
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for ankylosing spondylitis?
MRI of sacroilliac joint
What diagnostic tests should be performed when a pt presents with suspected ankylosing spondylitis?
- X-ray (followed by MRI)
- HLA-B27 (positive)
- ESR (elevated)
- rheumatoid factor (negative)
What is the best treatment for ankylosing spondylitis? (3)
- NSAIDs
- biological agents (infliximab, adalimumab)
- sulfasalazine
A pt with the history of GU/GI infection presents with asymmetric arthritis (especially involving the knee), conjunctivitis, urethritis/ cervicitis/ circinate balantis (lesion around penis head) and keratoderma blenorrhagicum most likely suffers from …
Reactive arthritis/ Reiter’s syndrome
triad of knee (joint), pee (urinary), see (eye)
What is the treatment for reactive arthritis/ reiter’s syndrome?
NSAIDs
A pt with a history of silvery scaled patches on their skin presents with nail pitting, arthritis of the sacroiliac spine and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, sausaged shaped fingers (dactylitis) and inflammation of tendinous insertion sites (enthesitis), negative for rheumatoid factor but positive for HLA-B27 most likely suffers from …
Psoriatic Arthritis
joint involvement with history of psoriasis
What is the best initial treatment for psoriatic arthritis?
NSAIDs
What is the best treatment for resistant psoriatic arthritis?
Methotrexate
What is a disease that can possible occur from the use of anti-TNF agents?
reactivation of TB (old TB encased in granuloma held together by TNF)
A pt presenting with fever, myalgias, lymphadenopathy, polyarthritis, salmon-colored rash, hepatosplenomegaly, elevated transaminases, positive for HLA-B27 and negative for rheumatoid factor most likely suffers from…
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA; adult-onset Still’s disease)
What is the treatment for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?
NSAIDs (use steroids if unresponsive to NSAIDs then use DMARD to get off steroid if needed)
What are the diagnostic findings associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis? (3)
- very high ferritin
- elevated WBC count
- negative for rheumatoid factor (RF) and ANA
A pt presents with history of diarrhea, fat malabsorption (steatorrhea, vitamin ADEK deficiency) and weight loss presenting with joint pain most likely suffers from …
Whipple Disease
What is the treatment for Whipple Disease?
trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for Whipple Disease?
bowel biopsy showing PAS positive organism
An older pt presents with joint pain and morning stiffness that last less than 30 minutes with associated creptius of the joint, affecting the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, with the presents of osteophytes on DIP and/ or PIP joint most likely suffers from …
Osteoarthritis
What are Herberden’s nodes?
DIP (distal interphalangeal) joint osteophytes (associated with osteoarthritis)
What are Bouchard’s nodes?
PIP (proximal interphalageal) joint osteophytes (associated with osteoarthritis)
What is the best initial test for osteoarthritis?
X-ray of the joint
What is the best initial step in management for a pt presenting with suspected osteoarthritis? (5)
- ANA
- ESR
- Rheumatoid factor
- anti-ccp
- aspirate joint fluid (WBC
What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?
acetominophen (with weight loss and exercise)
What are the 11 criteria used for diagnosing systemic lupus erythematous (SLE)? (4 of which are needed)
- malar rash (butterfly)
- photosensitivity rash
- oral ulcer rash
- discoid rash
- arthalgias (joint pain)
- hematologic abnormality (RBCs, WBCs, platelets)
- renal abnormality (proteinuria to end stage)
- neurological abnormality (behavioral, stroke, seizure, meningitis)
- serositis (pericarditis, pleuritic chest pain, pulmonary HTN, pnemonia, myocarditis)
- positive ANA
- positive dsDNA
What is the best initial test for systemic lupus erythematous (SLE)?
ANA
What is the most accurate test for systemic lupus erythematous (SLE)? (2)
- anit- ds DNA
2. anti-Sm (most specific)
What are the best tests to follow the severity of a systemic lupus erythematous flare-up? (2)
- complement level (decreases in flare)
2. anti-dsDNA (increases in flare)
What is the best initial step in management of a pt with suspected systemic lupus erythematous (SLE)?
- complement levels
- anti-Sm
- anti-dsDNA
What disease is a baby of a pregnant woman with lupus at risk for if anti-Ro or anti-SSA antibodies are present?
heart block
What is the treatment for acute flare-ups of systemic lupus erythematous?
steroids (prednisone); if severe disease relapse after cessation of steroids, use belimumab, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide)