Rheumatology Flashcards
List 6 causes of secondary osteoarthritis
- Haemachromatosis
- Wilson’s disease
- Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome
- Diabetes
- Alkaptonuria
- Previous injury
- Congenital joint disorders
How does joint involvement differ between OA and RA?
Involvement of the DIP joint is highly suggestive of OA or psoriatic arthritis, although may occur in RA
RA is more likely to be symmetric
What are Heberden’s nodes and when are they found?
Pain and nodular thickening on the dorsal sides of the distal interphalangeal joints
OA
What are Bouchard’s nodes and when are they found?
Pain and nodular thickening on the dorsal sides of the proximal interphalangeal joints
OA
What is hallux rigidus and when is it found?
Arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint characterised by hypertrophy of the sesamoid bones
OA
List four radiological signs of OA
1. Irregular joint space narrowing
2. Subchondral sclerosis
Dense area of bone (visible on x-ray) just below the cartilage zone of a joint, formed due to a compressive load on the joint
3. Osteophytes
4. Subchondral cysts
Fluid-filled cysts that develop at the surface of a joint due to local bone necrosis induced by the joint stress of osteoarthritis
Which HLA alleles are associated with RA?
HLA-DR4, HLA-DR1
What are 3 environmental triggers for RA?
Smoking
Infection
Silica dust
Mineral oils
What is a pannus?
Growth of granulation tissue from the inflamed synovium into the joint space
Characteristic of RA
How does a pannus cause joint disease?
Production of proteinases → destruction of cartilage and ECM
The pannus is composed of inflammatory cells
What is a swan neck deformity?
PIP hyperextension and DIP flexion
What is a Boutonniere deformity?
PIP flexion and DIP hyperextension
What is trigger finger?
Stenosing flexor tenosynovitis
Flexor tendon catches when it glides through a stenotic sheath at the first annular (A1) pulley
(associated with RA and diabetes)
What is a hammer toe?
MTP and DIP hyperextension, PIP hyperflexion
A sign of motor neuropathy but can also develop after trauma or rheumatoid arthritis. DM is the most common cause
What is the major complication of RA in the cervical spine?
Atlanto-axial subluxation → cervical spinal cord compression
What is the triad of Felty syndrome?
Arthritis, splenomegaly, neutropenia
A severe subtype of seropositive RA
When is the peak incidence of RA?
Ages 20-50
May occur at any age
Name 4 spondyloarthropathies
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Reactive arthritis
- Arthritis of IBD
Reactive arthritis most commonly follows which infections?
Enteric - Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter
Genitourinary e.g. Chlamydia, mycoplasma
Which connective tissue disease is strongly associated with temporal arteritis?
Polymyalgia rheumatica
What are gout crystals composed of?
Monosodium urate monohydrate
What is pseudogout?
Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease
What are the differences found on laboratory between monosodium urate and calcium pyrophosphate crystals?
Monosodium urate - negative birefringent and needle-shaped
Calcium pyrophosphate - positive birefringent and rhomboid-shaped
Genetic defects impede what process in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Collagen synthesis
What are 3 clinical features of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
- Hyperextensible skin
- Joint hypermobility
- Easy bleeding (tissue fragility affecting vasculature)
What is tenosynovitis?
Inflammation of a tendon and its sheath
What is the classic triad of reactive arthritis?
Urethritis
Conjunctivitis
Arthritis
What is the most specific test for RA?
Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA)
AKA anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)
95% specific
(RF is 85% specific)
What are these?
Tophi
Name 4 common causative agents in viral arthritis
- Parvovirus B19
- HBV
- HCV
- Rubella
- HIV
What are 3 clinical tests which can be used in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis?
- Reduced chest expansion
- Mennell sign: tenderness to percussion and pain on the displacement of the sacroiliac joints
- FABER test: Flexion, ABduction, External Rotation provoke pain in the ipsilateral hip
- Reduced spinal mobility
What is this radiological finding?
Syndesmophytes in AS “bamboo spine”
Bony growth originating inside a ligament
What is this radiological finding?
Sclerosis of the vertebral ligaments
AS “dagger sign”
Which drug is used in RA if methotrexate is contraindicated or not tolerated?
Leflunomide
List 4 management options for ankylosing spondylitis
1. Physical therapy
- NSAIDs e.g. indomethacin
- TNF-alpha inhibitors (do not alter disease progression)
- Intra-articular glucocorticoids
- DMARDs for peripheral arthritis (no axial effects)
- Surgery
3/5 features are required for a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.
What are these 5 features?
- Evidence of psoriasis
- Psoriatic nail dystrophy
- Negative rheumatic factor
- Dactylitis
- Radiologic signs
What are 3 treatment options for psoriatic arthritis?
- NSAIDs (mild)
- DMARDs (moderate to severe)
- Physical therapy
What are the features of CREST syndrome?
C - calcinosis cutis
R - Raynaud’s phenomenon
E - Esophageal hypomotility
S - Sclerodactyly
T - Telangiectasia
(form of systemic sclerosis)
Which test is used to measure tear production?
What is a normal result?
Schirmer’s test
Normal: >15mm after 5 minutes (Sjogren <5mm)
What is the triad for disseminated gonococcal infection?
- Polyarthralgia
- Tenosynovitis
- Dermatitis
How does disseminated gonococcal infection present if it is not the clinical triad?
Purulent gonococcal arthritis
Abrupt inflammation in up to 4 joints (commonly kees, ankles and wrists)
Calcification of synovia and cartilage on ultrasound is characteristic of which disease?
Pseudogout
What is the tetrad for HSP?
- Palpable purpura
- Arthritis/arthralgia
- GI symptoms
- Renal disease
Which purpura characteristically has elevated platelets?
HSP
List the 5 major criteria for rheumatic fever
- Arthritis (migratory polyarthritis primarily involving large joints)
- Carditis
- Sydenham chorea
- Subcutaneous nodule
- Erythema marginatum
List the 4 minor criteria for rheumatic fever
- Aseptic monoarthritis or polyarthralgia
- Fever
- Elevated acute phase reactants (ESR/CRP)
- Prolonged PR interval
What combination of major and minor criteria is required for diagnosis of rheumatic fever?
2 major
1 major + 2 minor
3 minor (if recurrent)
ALL + plus evidence of preceding Group A streptococcus infection
What is serum sickness?
Type III hypersensitivity reaction in response to anti-toxin or anti-venom administration
What is a serum sickness-like reaction?
Reaction clinically identical to serum sickness in response to medications
Pathogenesis unclear
Name 3 conditions people with Sjogren’s are at an increased risk of developing? (one must be non-rheumatological)
- B cell lymphoma
- MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma
- SLE
- RA
What is the triad for septic arthritis?
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Restricted range of motion
What is a normal white cell count in synovial fluid?
< 200/mm3 (cmm)
Synovial fluid containing a range of how many white cells is suggestive of non-inflammatory arthritis?
200 - 2000/mm3 (cmm)
Above a threshold of how many white cells in synovial fluid is inflammatory arthritis highly likely?
>2000/mm3 (cmm)
What is empiric antibiotic therapy for septic arthritis?
Flucloxacillin
List 5 DDx for migratory polyarthritis
- Gonococcal arthritis
- Rheumatic fever
- Sarcoidosis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Lyme disease
- Bacterial endocarditis
- Whipple’s disease
List 4 causes of symmetrical polyarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- SLE
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
* (autoimmune connective tissue diseases)* - Viral arthritis
What are 2 highly specific tests for SLE?
Anti-dsDNA
Anti-Sm
Which antibody test is most sensitive for SLE?
ANA (93% sensitive)
For which diseases is a positive ANA most sensitive?
SLE (93%)
Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma (85%)