Rheumatology Flashcards
Explain what osteoarthritis is?
Wear and tear of the joints. Articular cartilage thinning and loss. Damage is caused to the articular cartilage and is induced by a complex interaction of genetic, metabolic, biochemical and biomechanics factors leading to an inflammatory response in the joint.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis?
Prevalence rises with age
Beyond 55 women are more affected than men
Genetic predisposition- family history increases risk
Obesity, sport and injury, there are also secondary causes
Difference between primary and secondary osteoarthritis?
Primary- no obvious cause
Secondary- may be due to previous injury, calcium crystal deposition disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Secondary may be more localised disease depending on the cause.
Where does osteoarthritis tend to occur?
In big joints in knee, hip lumbar and cervical spine. Can also affect DIP and PIP but rarely MCP in hand and joints in the foot.
What type of pain do you get in osteoarthritis? Is this different from rheumatoid?
Mechanical pain- worse on activity but relieved by rest. Different from rheumatoid where pain gets better with activity.
Do you get stiffness in the morning with osteoarthritis?
You do but less so than in rheumatoid. The stiffness in osteoarthritis only lasts 5-10 mins but rheumatoid can last for hours.
What rheumatological condition could be a cause of claudication in the legs?
Osteoarthritis in spine puts pressure on nerves causing claudication in the legs.
Examination in osteoarthritis?
May not see anything
Palpate crepitus- grating sensation over joints
Swelling- osteophytes cause this so feels hard
Reduced range of movement
Joint tenderness and effusion
Tests done with osteoarthritis?
History and exam always first
No specific lab tests
X-ray- although this may be normal in early disease
4 things that may be seen on X-ray of osteoarthritis?
Osteophytes, loss of joint space, subchondral sclerosis and subchondral cysts. X-RAY MAY BE NORMAL THOUGH.
Is there a pharmacological cure for osteoarthritis?
No- all about managing symptoms
Management of osteoarthritis?
1) Offer education and reassurance
2) self-management in exercise, weight loss and suitable pacing
3) physiotherapy
4) analgesia- paracetamol, NSAIDs, pain modulators (amitriptyline and gabapentin)
5) Surgical treatment- arthroscopic washout occasionally. Joint replacement is definitive solution.
What is gout?
Inflammatory arthritis associated with hyperuricaemia and intra-articular sodium urate crystals.
What is definition of hyperuricaemia? Can this cause gout on its own?
uric acid 0.42 mm mol/l as at this point it becomes insoluble, doesn’t cause gout on its own, need correct conditions to lead to an attack.
Things that can cause increased urate production?
Inherited enzyme defects Malignancy Psoriasis Haemoytic disorders Alcohol High purine intake (red meat, seafood and corn syrup)
Why does malignancy, psoriasis and haemolytic disorders predispose to gout?
Uric acid is derived from purines which are the building blocks of DNA in these hyper proliferative conditions there will be increased purine turn over
Conditions that can cause reduced urate excretion?
Chronic renal impairment Volume depletion in HF Hypothyroidism Diuretics Cytotoxics
Who commonly gets gout?
More common in the elderly
More common in men than women
Rarely seen in women before menopause
Presentation of an acute attack of gout?
First presentation is usually MTP joint in the foot
Agonising pain, swelling and redness
Will settle in 10 days without treatment and 3 days with treatment
Abrupt onset and may have normal uric acid during attack
Presentation of chronic tophaceous gout?
Chronic joint inflammation
Often diuretic associated and will be high serum uric acid
Tophi- smooth, white deposits in skin and around joints on the ear, finger and achilles tendon
Chronic pain and can get acute attacks on top of this
Investigations for gout?
Raised inflammatory markers Raised serum uric acid in chronic gout Synovial fluid- polarising microscopy shows needle shaped negatively birefringent crystals Renal impairment X-rays
If you hear what think gout?
negatively birefringent crystals
Treatment of acute gout?
High dose NSAIDS e.g. diclofenac sodium, diclofenac potassium and naproxen
Colchicine is alternative if NSAID contraindicated
Corticosteroids if resistant and/or can’t take NSAIDs
Treatment of chronic gout?
Xanthine oxidase inhibitors-allopurinol or febuxostat started 2-4 weeks after acute attack. Can make attack worse if started during. NSAIDs used to try and stop attack whilst hyperuricaemia is being corrected.
What is pseudo gout?
Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease that mimics gout
Causes of pseudo gout?
hyperparathyroidism, previous cartilage problems, hypothyroidism, haemochromatosis, hypomagnesemia.
Who is pseudo gout more common in?
the elderly (wouldn’t consider in those under 70)
Diagnosis of pseudo gout?
Detection of rhomboidal, weakly positively birefingement crystals in joint fluid. Presence of cartilage calcification on X-ray. Joint fluid looks purulent so needs to be cultured to exclude septic arthritis as attacks may be associated with raised WBC.
Treatment of pseudo gout?
No drug to eliminate crystals.
NSAIDs, colchicine, steroids and rehydration.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Auto-immune inflammatory joint disease
Pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis?
1) susceptibility genes
2) environmental triggers e.g. smoking cause changes to the way DNA is transcript leading to conversion of amino acid arginine into citrulline
3) results in protein unfolding and the unfolded protein can then act as an antigen
4) antibodies to citrullinated peptides are distributed through the circulation and form immune complexes with citrullinated proteins produced in the inflamed synovial
5) this is associated with infiltration and activation of neutrophils
What does RA classically present like?
Progressive, symmetrical, peripheral polyarthritis evolving over a period of a few weeks or months in patients between 30 and 50
Prolonged morning stiffness lasting more than 30mins
Involvement of small joints of hands and feet. MCPs, PIPs and MTPs. Not DIPS!
Symmetric distribution
Positive compression tests of MCP and MTP
Inflamed swollen joints are soft and squishy.
What joint are usually affected in rheumatoid arthritis?
Involvement of small joints of hands and feet. MCPs, PIPs and MTPs. Not DIPS!
MCP involvement= always inflammatory
Describe the two auto-antibodies for rheumatoid arthritis?
1) Anti-CCP most important test, really specific, and can be positive before symptoms. Can get zero negative RA however.
Rheumatoid factor- not very specific as can be positive even if you don’t have symptoms however unlikely to have disease if negative.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide tests for?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid factor tests for?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Describe imaging in rheumatoid arthritis
In early disease X-ray may be normal, show soft tissue swelling or periarticular osteopenia
In late disease may see erosions and subluxation
Ultrasound shows synovitis in early disease and can detect MCP erosions
MRI also used sometimes
Name some of the non-articular manifestations of RA?
Rheumatoid nodules Interstitial lung disease Scleritis Increased CVS risk Osteopenia and osteoporosis Amyloidosis
Management of RA?
First line DMARDs- oral methotrexate
Then add another DMARD if disease activity still high (leflunomide or sulfasalazine)
Biologics offered if tried two DMARDs and still high disease
Steroids can be used for managing flares
First line management for RA?
DMARDs- Oral methotrexate
Side effects of DMARDS? Monitoring?
METHOTREXATE IS TERATOGENIC AND MUST BE STOPPED 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO CONCEPTION
other effects are bone marrow suppression, infection, LFT derangement, pneumonitis and nausea
THEREFORE BLOOD TESTS NEED TO BE DONE REGULARLY ON THESE DRUGS
What drug is teratogenic and must be stopped 3 months prior to conception?
Methotrexate
Examples of biologic drugs in RA?
Anti TNF agents- Infliximab, Etanercept, Adalimumab, Certolizumab, Golimumab T cell receptor blocker-Abatacept. B cell depletor-Rituximab IL-6 blocker-Tocilizumab. JAK inhibitors-Tofacitinib, Baricitinib
Side effects of biologics used in RA?
Risk of infection, question over increase in skin cancer risk, contraindicated in pulmonary fibrosis and heart failure
When are biologics contraindicated in RA?
Pulmonary fibrosis and heart failure
What is systemic lupus erythematotosus?
Inflammatory, multi system autoimmune disorder with arthralgia and rashes as most common clinical feature and cerebral and renal disease as most serious problem
Who is SLE more common in ?
9x more common in females than males and commonly presents in child bearing years. Commoner and more severe in those of Afro-caribbean, hispanic american, asian and chinese ethnicity.
Pathogenesis of SLE?
When cells die by apoptosis the nuclear contents float around longer so antibodies develop to the auto-antigens from the cells. Cells expressing these antigens are attacked by the immune system. There is formation of nucleosome/anti-nucleosome complexes. These are mainly deposited in the skin and kidneys.
Cutaneous presentation of lupus?
Acute cutaneous lupus-malar butterfly rash, red rash with clearing in centre. Aggravated by sun. Discoid lupus. Alopecia. Oral ulceration.
Joint symptoms of lupus?
Symptoms similar to RA but joints often appear clinically normal
Lung symptoms of lupus?
Pleural effusions
Rarely pulmonary fibrosis
Heart symptoms of lupus?
Pericarditis and pericardial effusions
Cardiovascular symptoms of lupus?
Pericarditis and pericardial effusion
Kidney involvement of lupus?
Renal involvement is asymptomatic until it is very serious. Early manifestations= microscopic amount of blood and proteinuria > 0.5g in 24hrs due to nephritis. Urinanalysis is done in SSLE and if positive kidney biopsy.
Describe anti-phospholipid syndrome
This can occur on its own but is often secondary to SLE> Associated with venous and arterial thrombosis and recurrent miscarriage. Check for lupus anti-coagulant, anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta2glycoprotein.
Antibody tests for lupus?
Anti-double stranded DNA= best one dsDNA is specific for lupus, titre correlates with disease activity and is associated with lupus nephritis
Anti-nuclear antibody= gateway to connective tissue disease. Low specificity so doesn’t confirm SLE but unlikely to have it if negative
Test for antiphospholipid
Anti-Ro- can be associated with neonatal lupus and heat block
Anti Sm- highly specific but only 2/3 with lupus are positive
Pregnant mother has Anti-Ro what must you do?
Heart monitor for baby- its associated with neonatal lupus and heart block?
Anti dsDNA?
SLE
ANA?
Any connective tissue disease
Lupus anti-coagulant, anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta2glycoprotein?
anti-phospholipid syndrome
Anti sm?
2/3 of lupus patients- very specific
Management of Lupus?
All patients should be monitored, given sun protection measures, minimise steroid used and given hydroxychloroquinine
In moderate disease give immunosuppression e.g. methotrexate or azathioprine
In severe disease give cyclophosphamide, rituximab which are potent immunosuppressors
Steroids in lupus are generally bad
What is sjogrens?
Auto immune condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluid. Can be primary or may be linked to lupus or RA.
Who do sjogrens primarily effect?
People aged 40-60 more women than men
What will patient complain of in sjogrens?
dry eyes- gritty dry mouth dry throat vaginal dryness bilateral parotid gland enlargement generalised aches and pains fatigue unexplained increase in dental caries due to lack of saliva
Antibodies and blood tests in sjogrens?
Anti-Ro
Anti-La
Raised IgG
Plasma visocity raised
Why do you tend to see sjogrens patients a lot?
increased risk of lymphoma. generally no organ damage but need to check for cancer.