Rheumatology Diseases Flashcards
What is osteoporosis?
Progressive skeletal disease with reduced bone mass and micro-deteriorations. Bone mineral density more than 2.5 sds below the mean
What is osteopenia?
Pre-cursor to osteoporosis= Bone mineral density 1-2.5 stds below the mean
What is the epidemiology of osteoporosis?
More common in females over 50. Caucasian and Asian populations more at risk
When does peak bone mass occur?
25 years
How does osteoporosis occur?
Increased breakdown by osteoclasts and decreased formation by osteoblasts, leading to loss of bone mass. When there is decreased oestrogen, there is increased numbers of osteoclasts and premature arrest of osteoblasts, and perforation of trabeculae= more likely fracture
What are the risk factors of osteoporosis?
Old age Women Family history Previous fracture Steroid use Endocrine disease Alcohol and tobacco Low BMI Low testosterone Early menopause Renal or liver failure Malabsorption
What are some lifestyle treatments for osteoporosis?
Quit smoking and alcohol
Calcium and vitamin D rich diet
Weight bearing exercise
Balance exercises
What is the clinical presentation of osteoporosis?
Only get symptoms from fractures
- Vertebral crush fracture= sudden pain
- Thoracic vertebral fracture = Kyphoidosis
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)= gold standard. Generates T scores. T score of more than 2.5 below mean= osteoporosis.
Calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphate in bloods all normal
What are some pharmacological treatments for osteoporosis?
Anti-resorptives to slow down osteoclasts= Bisphosphonates, strontum renelate, denosumab
Hormone replacement therapy of oestrogen or testosterone
Raloxifene
What is osteomalacia?
Poor bone mineralisation leading to soft bone due to a lack of calcium (adult form of rickets)
What is the pathophysiology of osteomalacia?
Normal bone mineralisation depends on adequate calcium and phosphate. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the intestines and promotes bone resorption by increasing osteoclast number
What is the aetiology of osteomalacia?
Hyperphosphataemia due to hyperparathyroidism Vit D deficiency Poor diet Lack of sunlight Drug induced Liver or renal disease Tumour induced
What is the clinical presentation of osteomalacia?
- Muscle weakness
- Dull bone ache
- Bone pain and tenderness
- Fracture especially on femur neck
What is the clinical presentation of rickets?
- Growth retardation, hypertonia
- Knock knees, bowed legs
- Widened epiphyses at wrists
- Hypocalcaemic tetany in severe cases
How is osteomalacia diagnosed?
Bloods: Low calcium and low phosphate, raised alk phosphatase, raised PTH, low vit D
Biopsy shows incomplete mineralisation
X ray shows defective mineralisation
How is osteomalacia treated?
Vit D replacement
- In dietary insufficiency= Calcium D3 forte
- In malabsorption/ hepatic disease= Oral ergocalciferol or IM calcitriol
- In renal disease= Alfacidol or calcitriol
What is fibromyalgia?
Widespread MSK pain after other conditions are excluded, characterised by central pain due to a central disturbance in pain processing
What are the risk factors for fibromyalgia?
Female, middle age, low household income, low education status, depression, IBS, ME
What is the epidemiology of fibromyalgia?
Often over 60 years. More common in females and those with rheumatoid arthritis
What is the clinical presentation of fibromyalgia?
- Chronic pain aggravated by cold, stress and exercise in the specific pain areas
- General morning stiffness
- Extreme fatigue after minimal exertion
- Non restorative sleep
- Patient is often angry as can’t find a reason for pain
What are the pain areas associated with fibromyalgia?
- Lower front of neck
- Base of skull
- Upper edge of breast
- Neck and shoulder
- Upper inner shoulder
- Elbow
- Upper outer buttock
- Inside of knee
- Hip
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
- Pain at 11 of 18 tender sites for more than 6 months
- Rule out differentials
How is fibromyalgia treated?
Educate patient and family about the symptoms
Reset pain thermostat
Low dose tricyclic antidepressants (oral amitriptyline) and anticonvulsants (Oral pregabalin)