Rheumatology Flashcards
What is articular cartilage composed of?
High water content
Type II collagen and proteoglycans
What condition is anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) highly specific for?
Rheumatoid arthritis
What does the presence of serum anti-dsDNA indicate?
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
What does the presence of serum anti-Ro indicate?
Primary scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus
What does the presence of serum anti-La indicate?
Primary scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus
What does the presence of serum anti-Smith indicate?
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
What does the presence of serum anti-Jo-1 indicate?
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis
What does the presence of serum anti-phospholipid indicate?
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Name the muscles of the rotator cuff muscles
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Subscaularis
Teres minor
What is meralgia paraesthetica?
Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh compression
What are the symptoms of meralgia paraesthetica?
Numbness and increased sensitivity to light touch over the anterolateral thigh - usually self-limiting
What are the characteristics of mechanical back pain?
Sudden onset
Often unilateral and may be helped by rest
Outline some causes of mechanical back pain
Lumbar disc prolapse Osteoarthritis Fractures Spondylolithiesis Spinal stenosis
There a certain ‘red flag’ symptoms in the presentation of lumbar back pain. List them.
Aged <20 or >50 Constant pain without relief History of TB, HIV, steroid use or carcinoma Systemically unwell Localised bone tenderness Bilateral signs in legs Neurological deficit Bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction
Any thoracic back pain is considered a ‘red flag’
What course of action is indicated in the presence of ‘red flag’ symptoms for lower back pain?
Spinal X-ray
In the presence of neurological symptoms with concurrent back pain, what imaging modality is of most value?
Spinal MRI
How is mechanical back pain, in the absence of obvious pathology, managed?
Analgesia
Breif rest
Physiotherapy
What is the pathophysiology of acute disc disease?
Prolapse of the intervertebral disc resulting in acute back pain with/without sciatica
What demographic is acute intervertebral disease most common in?
Younger people
What is the more common cause of sciatica in older patients?
The result of compression of the nerve root by osteophytes in the lateral recess of the spinal cord
What is the typical presentation of acute vertebral prolapse?
Sudden onset of severe back pain (often following strenuous activity)
Pain is related to position and is aggrevated by movement
Muscle spasm leads to sideways tilt when standing
How is acute vertebral prolapse managed?
Symptom control - analgesia, bed rest (on firm mattress)
In severe disease consider epidural corticosteroid injection or surgery
Physiotherapy in the recovery period
What pathological process is chronic disc disease associated with?
Degenerative changes in the lower lumbar discs and facet joints. Pain is the mechanical type
What area of pain may arise from an S1 lesion?
From buttock down the back of thigh and leg to the foot