rheumatology to work on Flashcards
Give 6 signs of spondyloarthritis
SPINE ACHE
- Sausage digits = dactylics
- Psoriasis
- Inflammatory back pain
- NSAID responsive
- Enthesitis
- Arthritis
- Crohn’s/UC
- HLAB27
- Eye - uveitis
what is the clinical presentation of ankylosing spondylitis
- Lower back pain + stiffness → worse with rest + improves with movement
- Sacroiliac pain - radiates to hips
- Flares of worsening symptoms
- loss of lumbar lordosis and increased kyphosis
- progressive loss of spinal movement
- anterior uveitis
What is the treatment for ankylosing spondylitis?
NSAIDs
corticosteroids
anti-TNF drugs infliximab
Physio, lifestyle advice
Surgery for deformities
what are the clinical features of psoriatic arthritis
- Asymmetrical oligoarthritis (60%)
- Large joint arthritis (15%)
- Enthesitis - inflammation of entheses
- Dactylitis - inflammation of full finger
- Nail changes (pitting, onycholysis)
- inflammatory joint pain
- plaques of psoriasis
What investigations might you do in someone you suspect to have psoriatic arthritis?
X-ray
- Erosion in DIPJ + periarticular new-bone formation - Osteolysis - Pencil-in-cup deformity
Bloods
- ESR + CRP - normal or raised
- Rheumatoid factor -ve
- anti-CCP - negative
Joint aspiration - no bacteria or crystals
What is reactive arthritis?
● A sterile synovitis which occurs following GI infection or STI
● Typically affects lower limb
What GI infections are associated with causing reactive arthritis?
Salmonella Shigella Yersinia enterocolitica campylobacter
What GU infections are associated with causing reactive arthritis?
Chlamydia
Ureaplasma
urealyticum
What investigations might you do in someone you suspect to have reactive arthritis?
ESR + CRP - raised ANA - negative RF - negative X-ray - sacroiliitis or enthesopathy Joint aspirate - negative (exclude septic arthritis + gout)
What type of spondyloarthritis occurs in 20% of patients with IBD?
Enteropathic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis commonly involved swelling of what joint?
DIP joint
Give 4 properties of bone that contribute to bone strength
- Bone mineral density
- Bone size
- Bone turnover
- Bone micro-architecture
- Mineralisation
- Geometry
Give 5 risk factors for osteoporosis
- old age, women, FHx, previous fracture, smoking, alcohol, Asian/Caucasian
‘SHATTERED’
- Steroid use
- Hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypercalciuria
- Alcohol + tobacco use
- Thin (BMI < 18.5)
- Testosterone (low)
- Early menopause
- Renal or liver failure
- Erosive/inflammatory bone disease (e.g. myeloma or RA)
- Dietary low calcium /malabsorption or Diabetes type 1
Name 3 endocrine disease that can be responsible for causing osteoporosis
- Hyperthyroidism and primary hyperparathyroidism - TH and PTH increase bone turnover
- Cushing’s syndrome - cortisol leads to increase bone resorption and osteoblast apoptosis
- Early menopause, male hypogonadism - less oestrogen/testosterone to control bone turnover
What cells might you see on a histological slide taken form someone with vasculitis?
Neutrophils
Giant cells
What is Giant cell arteritis?
Granulomatous inflammation of large cerebral arteries as well as other large vessels (aorta) which occurs in association with Polymyalgia rheumatica
Describe the pathophysiology of giant cell arteritis
Arteries become inflamed, thicken and can obstruct blood flow
what are is the clinical presentation of giant cell arteritis?
- Headache, typically unilateral over temporal area
- Temporal artery/scalp tenderness
- Jaw claudication
- Visual symptoms - vision loss (painless)
- Systemic symptoms - fever, malaise, lethargy
What are the investigations for giant cell arteritis?
- ↑ESR and/or CRP (=highly sensitive) ESR >50 mm/hr
- Halo sign on US of temporal and axillary artery
- Temporal artery biopsy = gold standard for Dx (show giant cells, granulomatous inflammation)
What is the diagnostic criteria for giant cell arteritis?
- Age >50
- New headache
- Temporal artery tenderness
- Abnormal artery biopsies
Describe the treatment for giant cell arteritis
- High dose corticosteroids - prednisolone ASAP
- DMARDs - methotrexate (sometimes)
- Osteoporosis prophylaxis is important - lansoprazole, alendronate, Ca2+, vit D
What is the pathophysiology of Wegener’s granulomatosis?
Necrotising granulomatous vasculitis affecting arterioles and venules
ANCAs can activate primed circulating neutrophils which leads to fibrin deposition in vessel walls and deposition of destructive inflammatory mediators
What organ systems can be affected Wegener’s granulomatosis?
- URT
- Lungs
- Kidneys
- Skin
- Eyes
What is the affect of Wegener’s granulomatosis on the Upper respiratory tract?
- Sinusitis
- Otitis
- Cough
- Haemoptysis
- Saddle nose deformity
What is the affect of Wegener’s granulomatosis on the lungs?
- Pulmonary haemorrhage/nodules
2. Inflammatory infiltrates are seen on X-ray
What is the affect of Wegener’s granulomatosis on the Kidney?
Glomerulonephritis –> haem/proteinuria
What is the affect of Wegener’s granulomatosis on the skin?
Ulcers Pulpura
What is the affect of Wegener’s granulomatosis on the eyes?
Uveitits
Scleritis
Episcleritis
What investigations might you do in someone you suspect to have Wegener’s Granulomatosis?
ANCA testing - c-ANCA
Tissue biopsy - (renal biopsy best) - shows granulomas
CT - assessment of organ involvement
FBC - high eosinophils
What is the treatment for Wegener’s Granulomatosis?
- Glucocorticoids (prednisolone)
- Immunosuppresive drugs (cyclophosphamide OR rituximab)
- plasma exchange for specific complications
Give 5 risk factors for developing OA
- Genetic predisposition - females, FHx
- Trauma
- Abnormal biomechanics (e.g. hypermobility)
- Occupation (e..g manual labor)
- Obesity = pro-inflammatory state
- Old age
What are the most important cells responsible for OA?
Chondrocytes
Describe the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis
Mechanical stress –> progressive destruction and loss of articular cartilage
exposed subchondral bone becomes sclerotic
cytokine mediated TNF/IL/NO involved
deficiency in growth factors
Name the 2 main pathological features of osteoarthritis
- Cartilage loss
2. Disordered bone repair
Give 5 radiological features associated with OA
LOSS
- Loss of joint space - articular cartilage destruction
- Osteophyte formation - calcified cartilaginous destruction
- Subchondral sclerosis - exposed
- Subchondral cysts
- Abnormalities of bone contour
Nodal osteoarthritis can affect the DIP and PIP joints. What are the 2 terms sued for nodes on these joints?
- PIP = Bouchard’s nodes
2. DIP = Heberden’s nodes
Give an example of an autoimmune connective tissue disease
- SLE
- Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Dermatomyositis/Polymyositis
Describe the pathogenesis of SLE
Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction = immune complex mediated
Autoantibodies to a variety of auto antigens result in formation and deposition of immune complexes
what are the clinical features of SLE?
Symptoms:
butterfly rash, wt loss, fever, fatigue, joint pain, mouth ulcers
Signs: correctable ulnar deviation
- Rash - photosensitive vs diced vs malar (butterfly rash)
- Mouth ulcers
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
- General - fever, malaise, fatigue
- Depression
- Lupus nephritis –> proteinuria, renal failure and renal hypertension
- Arthritis - symmetrical
- Serositis - pleurisy/pleural effusion
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect has SLE?
- Blood tests = anaemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, RAISED ESR and NORMAL CRP
- Serum autoantibodies - ANA, anti-dsDNA
Describe the non medical treatment for SLE
Patient education and support
UV protection
Screening for end organ damage
Reduce CV risk factors - smoking cessation
Describe the pharmacological treatment for SLE
● Avoid excessive sunlight and reduce CVS risk factors ● NSAIDs - ibuprofen ● Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine ● Corticosteroids - prednisolone ● cyclophosphamide ● methotrexate ● Topical steroids
What is systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)?
A multi system disease characterised by excess production and accumulation of collagen –> inflammation and vasculopathy
Describe the pathophysiology of scleroderma
Various factors cause endothelial lesion and vasculopathy
Excessive collagen deposition –> inflammation and auto-antibody production
Give 5 signs of limited scleroderma
CREST
1. Calcinosis - skin calcium deposits
2. Raynauds
3. Esophageal reflux/stricture
4. Sclerodactyly - thick tight skin on fingers/toes
5. Telangiectasia - dilated facial spider veins
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Give 4 signs of diffuse scleroderma
Skin changes develop more rapidly and are more widespread than inlimited cutaneous scleroderma/CREST
- Proximal scleroderma
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Bowel involvement
- Myositis
- Renal crisis
What is a diagnostic test for scleroderma?
Limited - ACAs
Diffuse - Anti-topoisomerase, Anti scl-70 ANAs ESR (normal)
If renal involvement, there may be anemia
Describe the management of scleroderma
avoid smoking, handwarmers
GI - PPIs, Antibiotics
Renal - ACEi
Pulmonary fibrosis - cyclophosphamide
Give 5 symptoms of sjögren’s syndrome
- Dry eyes and dry mouth
- dry skin and dry vagina
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Rash
- Neuropathies
- Vasculitis
- fatigue
- salivary and parotid gland enlargement
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect to have sjögren’s syndrome?
Serum auto-antibodies –> anti-RO, anti-La, RF, ANA
Raised immunoglobulins and ESR
Schirmer’s test
- ability for eyes to self-hydrate - <10mm in 5 minutes
Rose bengal staining and slit lamp exam
What is the treatment for sjögren’s syndrome?
- Artificial tears, artificial saliva, vaginal lubricants
- Hydroxychloroquine
- NSAID
- M3 agonist - pilocarpine
What is dermatomyositis?
A rare disorder of unknown aetiology
Inflammation and necrosis of skeletal muscle fibres and skin
Give 3 symptoms of dermatomyositis
- Rash
- Muscle weakness
- Lungs are often affected too (e.g. interstitial lung disease)
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect has dermatomyositis?
- Muscle enzymes raised
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Muscle/skin biopsy
- Screen for malignancy
- CXR
What is the treatment for dermatomyositis?
Steroids - prednisolone
Immunosuppressants
What are the 3 phases of Raynaud’s?
White (vasoconstriction) –> Blue (tissue hypoxia) –> red (vasodilation)
which organisms can cause septic arthritis?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococci
- Neisseria Gonorrhoea
- Gram negative = E. coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa
what are the risk factors for septic arthritis?
Pre-existing joint disease (OA or RA) Joint prostheses IVDU Immunosuppression Alcohol misuse Diabetes Intra-articular corticosteroid injection Recent joint surgery
What investigation would you do to someone you suspect has septic arthritis?
Aspirate joint → MC+S
Blood culture
WCC → may be raised
ESR + CRP → raised
Describe the treatment for septic arthritis
Aspirate joint Empirical Abx - flucloxacillin - if allergic to penicilin = clindamycin - if MRSA = vancomycin - if gram negative = cefotaxime Analgesia - NSAIDS
What organisms can cause osteomyelitis?
- Staph. aureus
- Coagulase negative staph (s. epidermidis)
- Aerobic gram negate bacilli (salmonella)
- haemophilus influenza
- Mycobacterium TB
Name 2 predisposing conditions for osteomyelitis
- Diabetes
2. PVD
Osteomyelitis: Who is most likely to be effected by contagious spread of infection?
Affects older adults, those with DM, chronic ulcers, vascular disease, arthroplasties
Give 4 host factors that affect the pathogenesis of osteomyelitis
- Behavioural (risk of trauma)
- Vascular supply (arterial disease, DM)
- Pre-existing bone/joint problems (RA)
- Immune deficiency
Acute osteomyelitis: what changes to bone might you see histologically?
- Inflammatory cells
- Oedema
- Vascular congestion
- Small vessel thrombosis
Chronic osteomyelitis: what changes to bone might you see histologically?
- Necrotic bone - ‘squestra’
- New bone formation ‘involucrum’
- Neutrophil exudates
- Lymphocytes and histiocytes
Why does chronic osteomyelitis lead to sequestra and new bone formation?
- Inflammation in BM increase intramedullary pressure exudate into bone cortex which rupture through periosteum
- this causes interruption of periosteum blood supply which results in necrosis and sequestra
- therefore new bone forms
What is acute osteomyelitis associated with?
Associated with inflammatory bone changes caused by pathogenic bacteria
What is chronic osteomyelitis associated with?
Involves bone necrosis
what is the clinical presentation of osteomyelitis?
- Slow onset
- Dull pain at OM site, aggravated by movement
- Systemic = fever, rigors, sweating, malaise
what are the signs of acute osteomyelitis?
- Tender
- Warm
- Red swollen area around OM
what are the signs of chronic osteomyelitis?
- Acute OM signs
- Draining sinus tract
- Non-healing ulcers/fracture
What is the differential diagnosis of osteomyelitis?
- Cellulitis
- Charcot’s joints (sensation loss –> degeneration)
- Gout
- Fracture
- Malignancy
- Avascular bone necrosis
What investigations might you do on someone who you suspect may have osteomyelitis?
- Bloods - raised inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) and WCC
- X-rays (cortical erosion, sequestra, sclerosis) and MRI (delineates inflammatory layers, marrow oedema)
- Bone biopsy - gold standard
- Blood cultures
Describe the usual treatment for osteomyelitis
Large dose IV antibiotics tailored to culture findings (S. aureus = flucloxacillin)
immobilisation
Surgical treatment = debridement +/- arthroplasty of joint involved
Give 4 ways in which TB osteomyelitis is different to other osteomyelitis
- Slower onset
- Epidemiology is different
- Biopsy is essential - caseating granuloma
- Longer Treatment = 12 months
Why is osteomyelitis difficult to treat?
Antibiotics struggle to penetrate bone and bone has a poor blood supply
Name 3 risk factors of RA
- Smoking
- Women
- family history
- Other AI conditions
- genetic factors - HLA-DR4 and HLA-DRB1
Describe the pathophysiology of RA
- Chronic inflammation - B/T cells and neutrophils infiltrate
- Proliferation –> pannus formation (synovium grows out and over cartilage)
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines –> proteinases –> cartilage destruction
what are the symptoms of RA?
- Early morning stiffness (>60 mins)
- Pain eases with use
- Swelling
- General fatigue, malaise
- Extra-articular involvment
what are the signs of RA?
- Symmetrical polyarthorpathy
- Deforming –> ulnar deviation, swan neck deformity, boutonniere deformity
- Erosion on X-ray
- 80% = RF positive