Rheumatology Flashcards
What is an arthropathy?
DIsease of the joint
What is an arthritis?
Inflammation of the joint
What is arthralgia?
Pain in the joint
What is osteoarthritis?
Erosion of the joint cartilage
What causes OA?
Can be primary due to use or secondary to most things that damage joints
What should you look for on an XR for OA?
Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Sclerosis
Subchondral cysts
How do you treat OA?
Pain management: analgesia and opiates
Physio
Joint replacement
What are the two broad categories of arthritis?
Inflammatory and non-inflammatory
What is the main form of non-inflammatory arthritis
Osteoarthritis
What are the four subcategories of inflammatory arthritis?
Seropositive
Seronegative
Infectious
Crystal induced
What are the two forms of crystal induced arthropathies?
Gout
Pseudogout
What is gout?
Negatively bifringic urate crystals deposit in joints
What causes gout?
Hyperuricemia- Renal disease, red meat, alcohol and seafood
Precipitation triggered by: dehydration, trauma or surgery
How does gout present?
Intense pain, redness, heat and swelling that lasts for 7-10 days.
Most common site is 1st MTP joint
How do you diagnose gout?
Look for negatively bifringic needle shaped crystals in synovial fluid
How do you treat gout?
NSAIDs Steroids Analgesia Colchicine Allopurinol- to lower urate but can make flare worse so don't start when having one.
What is pseudogout?
Calcium pyrophosphate crystals in joint
Where is pseudogout often seen?
Knee
Wrist
Ankle
What causes pseudogout?
Cause unknown but often seen with OA
How do you treat pseudogout?
NSAIDs
Steroids
Colchicine
What is the main form of infectious arthritis?
Septic arthritis
What is septic arthritis?
Infection in the joint capsule
How can the joint capsule get infected?
Direct inoculation
Hematogenous spread
SPread from bone or soft tissue infection
What bacteria commonly cause septic arthritis?
S. Aureus
Strep
Coag -ive staph
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
How does septic arthritis present?
Severe pain
Redness
Swelling
Limited movement
How do you diagnose septic arthritis?
Look for bacteria in synovial fluid and exclude crystal arthropathies
How do you treat septic arthritis?
Presume S. Aureus so start high does flucloxacillin then switch to appropriate when diagnosed
If <5YO Ceftriaxone
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Production of autoantibodies against synovial lining which can also attach articular cartilage and tendons
What antibodies are seen in RA?
Anti-CCP
How does RA present?
Mainly affects small joints- PIP not DIP
Symmetrical synovitis
Pain
Morning stiffness that takes >30 mins to ease
How can RA progress?
To large joints
C1/2 very problamatic
How do you diagnose RA?
Anti-CCP (prefered) or Rheumatoid factor
Raised CRP, ESR and plasma viscosity
Periarticular osteopenia and soft tissue swelling
US for inflammation
How do you treat RA?
DMARDs w/in 3 months of symptoms
Short term analgesia, NSAIDs and steroids
Biological therapy if resistant
Physio and OT etc
Give some examples of DMARDs
Methotrexate- 1st line but do NOT give in pregnancy
Sulfasalazine
Give some examples of biological agents
Anti-TNF alpha
Drugs ending in ‘-mab’
What does the DAS28 score measure?
RA disease state
What are the categories in DAS28?
<2.6- remision
2.7-5.1- Active
>5.1- Highly active
What is the DAS28 cut off score for receiving biological therapies?
> 5.1
What are the four seronegative arthropathies?
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Enteropathic Arthritis
Reactive Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Which antigen is often elevated in seronegative arthropathies?
HLA‐B27
CRP and ESR also elevated
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Chronic inflammation of spine and SI joints
How does Ankylosing Spondylitis present?
Spine pain and stiffness
Morning stiffness which eases with exercise
Knee/hip arthritis
‘?’ spine- loss of lumbar lordosis and increased thoracic kyphosis
How do you diagnose Ankylosing Spondylitis?
HLA‐B27 test
Bamboo spine on XR
Spinal movement with Schober’s test (line 5cm below and 10cm above PSIC)
What complications can accompany ankylosing spondylitis?
Uvitis
Aoritis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Amyloidosis
How do you treat ankylosing spondylitis?
Physio, exercise, NSAIDs, anti-TNF inhibitors
Surgery for knee/hip
What is enteropathic arthritis?
Inflammatory arthritis of peripheral joints in patients with IBD
How does enteropathic arthritis present?
Asymmetrical large joint oligoarthritis
How do you treat enteropathic arthritis?
Manage underlying condition
What is reactive arthritis?
Arthritis in response to infection in other part of body- usually STI or GI
How does reactive arthritis present?
Large joint inflammation 1-3 weeks after infection
What is Reiter’s syndrome?
Uveitis, urethritis and arthritis combo associated with reactive arthritis.
What triad of complications is associated with reactive arthritis?
Uveitis, urethritis and arthritis- Reiter’s syndrome