Rheumatology and Dermatology Flashcards
What are some possible modes of treatment for atopic dermatitis (eczema)?
- Calcineurin inhibitors: tacrolismus, pimecrolismus
- Topical steroids
- Antibiotics for open lesions
- Antihistamines
- Leukotriene inhibitors: montelukast
- UV light therapy
- Systemic steroids
- Immunosuppressive drugs: methotrexate, cyclosporin, azathioprine
How does one diagnose osteoporosis?
Bone mineral density test (DEXA: dual energy X-ray absorptiometry): T-score <= 2.5
What are the possible complications of osteoporosis?
- Vertebral crush fractures
>> Acute back pain
>> Loss of height
>> Kyphosis - Pathological fractures
>> Femoral neck fracture
>> Distal radius (Colles) fracture
What are the possible treatments for osteoporosis?
>> GO-TO regimen: bisphosphonate +/- SERM
- Bisphosphonates (e.g. risendronate, etidronate, alendronate etc.)
- PTH (e.g. teriparatide) - not to exceed 2 years, and must take bisphosphonate after stopping PTH to maintain BMD
- SERM (e.g. raloxifene)
- Testosterone/conjugated estrogen replacement
- Calcitonin spray - Denosumab
What are the side effects of bisphosphonates?
- Errosive esophagitis: needs to remain upright 30 minutes after drug intake
- Osteonecrosis of the jaw
What are the indications for bisphosphonates?
- Osteoporosis
- Paget’s disease of the bone
- Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy
What are the possible complications of osteopetrosis?
- Pathological fractures
- Narrowed foramina
>> Cranial nerve impingement
>> Cranial nerve palsies - Marrow infiltration
>> Pancytopenia
>> Extramedullary hematopoiesis
What are some presenting features of Paget disease of bone?
- Increasing HAT SIZE – hats getting too tight
- Narrowing of the auditory foramen: hearing loss
- Bone pain and deformities
- Long bone chalk-stick fractures >> Increased risk for osteosarcoma
What are the stages of Paget disease of bone?
- Lytic: increased osteoclastic activity
- Mixed: increased both osteoclastic/osteoblastic activity
- Sclerotic: increased osteoblastic activity
- Quiescent: minimal osteoclastic/osteoblastic activity
What is the treatment for Paget disease of bone?
Bisphosphonates: alendronate, risendronate etc.
What are the underlying etiologies of osteitis fibrosa cystica?
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Primary pseudohypoparathyroidism (Albright hereditary osteodystrophy)
>> PTH increased >> increased bone turnover with increased osteoclastic activity
What is the defining histological feature of osteitis fibrosa cystica?
“Brown tumours” in bone: cystic spaces lined by osteoclasts filled with fibrous stroma and blood
What are the features of McCune-Albright Syndrome?
- Cafe au lait spots
- Early/Precocious Puberty
- Abnormal Bone: polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (bone is replaced by collagen and fibroblasts with irregular bony trabeculae)
What is the most common type of hip dislocation? What is the most common cause of the above type?
Posterior dislocation of the hip
- Motor vehicle accident: when the knee is flexed and hips slightly abducted –> knee hits the dashboard
What structures can be damaged in a posterior dislocation of the hip?
- Medial circumflex femoral artery
- Lateral circumflex femoral artery
- Femoral vein
- Femoral nerve
- Head of femur
What is the most common cause of the unhappy triad?
Common contact sports injury
- Lateral force applied to a planted leg
What is the unhappy triad?
- MCL
- ACL
- Medial or lateral lemniscus
>> Lateral lemniscus in 56%
>> Medial lemniscus in 44%
Which cell type do chondrocytes originate from? Which cells do they share this origin?
Mesenchymal stem cells
- Osteoblasts
- Adipocytes
What is the leading cause of knee pain in patients under age 45?
Patellofemoral syndrome
What is the treatment for patellofemoral syndrome?
- Strengthening the quadriceps
- Stretching exercises
>> Hamstrings
>> Calves
>> Hip
>> Iliotibial band - Minimize activities that put excessive stress on the knee: squatting, kneeling, jogging, stop and go sports
- Maximize walking and other low-impact exercise
What are the two types of bursitis that can occur at the knee?
- Prepatellar bursitis: housemaid’s knee
- Infrapatellar bursitis: clergyman’s knee
What are the ligaments most commonly affected in an ankle sprain?
- Anterior talofibular ligament
- Calcaneofibular ligament
- Posterior talofibular ligament
What is the management for ankle sprain?
RICE
- Rest
- Ice: 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first 48 hours
- Compression
- Elevation
How does plantar fasciitis present?
- Pain beneath calcaneus: “Heel pain”
- Pain in the medial arch
- Pain worse with first steps in the morning and after weight-bearing
- Local point tenderness at the medial tubercle of the calcaneus




















