Rheumatology Flashcards
What blood tests can help diagnose SLE?
ANA
dsDNA
anti Smith (Type of ENA)
What blood tests are used for SLE monitoring?
C3/4
ESR
anti dsDNA
Describe skin manifestations of SLE .
Malar rash - Erythematous butterfly rash on face - nasolabial sparing
Discoid - like red scaly ringworm in sun exposed areas
Photosensitivity
Hair loss
Mouth ulcers
Describe the joint manifestations of SLE
Asymmetric
Morning stiffness of short duration,
PIP joints
Wrist and knee joints
Describe the symptoms of SLE that are not skin or joint related.
Reynauds
Miscarriage
Thrombophilia - anti-phospholipid syndrome
Lung fibrosis
Pleuritis
CKD
Fits
Psychosis
What would you expect to find on a renal biopsy in SLE?
Active renal sediment
Red cell or granular casts
(Proteinuria)
How would you treat SLE with MSK involvement only?
NSAIDS
How would you treat SLE with MSK and skin involvement.
Hydroxychloroquine
When would you consider anticoagulating a patient with SLE?
When they have associated antiphospholipid syndrome. Pro thrombotic state.
Warfarin
How would you treat SLE with renal involvement?
Cyclophosphomide
Who gets SLE?
Afro Caribbean
Female
20s
Which conditions can be associated with Reynaud’s?
Scleroderma
SLE
Rheumatoid arthritis
What features of Raynaud’s make it more likely there is an underlying connective tissue disease?
Unilateral
Onset post 40
Rash
Arthritis
Calcinosis
Recurrent miscarriage
How is Raynaud’s treated?
- Handwarmers etc
- Ca channel blocker eg nifedipine
- IV prostacyclin
What is anti-phospholipid syndrome? Which condition is it associated with?
Hyper coagulable state
Recurrent miscarriage
Primary and secondary to SLE
What is Sjrogen’s syndrome? What conditions is it associated with?
Dry mucous membranes
Dry eyes - keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Fatigue
Primary or secondary to SLE, RA
Which blood tests can help to diagnose Sjogren’s syndrome?
Rheumatoid factor
ANA
anti-Ro
anti- La
What type of malignancy is associated with Sjogren’s syndrome?
Lymphoma
How would you treat Sjogren’s?
Artificial tears
Pilocarpine for saliva production
What are the symptoms of scleroderma?
C - calcinosis R - Raynaud's E - Esophageal dysmotility S - sclerodactyly T - telangectasia
Which blood tests might help to diagnose scleroderma?
ANA
Rheumatoid factor
Anti - centromere
What is the differential for pain in the proximal muscles(quads, deltoids)?
Dermatomyositis/ polymyositis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Fibromyalgia
How does polymyalgia rheumatica normally present?
Pain and morning stiffness in proximal limb muscles (not weakness)
> 60 years old female
usually rapid onset (e.g. < 1 month)
also mild polyarthralgia, lethargy, depression, low-grade fever, anorexia
How is polymyalgia rheumatica treated?
Prednisolone - low dose
Dramatic and sudden response
Keep taking for a year (taper)
Which condition is associated with polymyalgia rheumatica?
Giant cell arteritis
How is Giant cell arteritis treated?
High dose oral prednisiolone
ASAP to prevent blindness
How does dermatomyositis present?
Weakness and pain in proximal muscles (more weakness)
Rash - purple red
Gottron’s papules - red scaly blobs on MCP and PIPs
High creatine kinase and LDH (muscle enzymes)
How does temporal/giant cell arteritis present?
Lethargy
Headaches
Recent onset
Raised ESR
Swollen temporal artery
Jaw claudication
What does a high titre on a rheumatology blood test indicate?
Positive result
1:160 means they diluted it loads and you could still detect that antibody.
Whereas 1:40 could be normal
Which conditions are associated with HLA B27?
Ankylosing spondylitis
Reiter’s syndrome and reactive arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Acute anterior uveitis
IBD