Rhuematology Flashcards
Rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic antibodies?
Anti-CCP
Rheumatoid factor
To revise the mnemonic differentiating OA and RA:
==== OA ====
L loss of joint space
O osteophytes
S subchondral sclerosis
S subchondral cysts
==== RA ====
L loss of joint space
E erosions
S soft tissue swelling
S soft bones (osteopenia)
S Subluxation
What antibodies are associated with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
anti-centromere antibodies
What is azathioprine?
metabolised to the active compound mercaptopurine, a purine analogue that inhibits purine synthesis. A thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) test may be needed to look for individuals prone to azathioprine toxicity.
First line for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates- Alendronate
If can’t tolerate give riseronate or etidrone
What does raloxifen do?
selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM)
prevent bone loss and to reduce the risk of vertebral fractures, but has not yet been shown to reduce the risk of non-vertebral fractures
What is Strontium ranelate
‘dual action bone agent’ - increases deposition of new bone by osteoblasts (promotes differentiation of pre-osteoblast to osteoblast) and reduces the resorption of bone by inhibiting osteoclasts
What is denosumab?
human monoclonal antibody that inhibits RANK ligand, which in turn inhibits the maturation of osteoclasts
X-ray findings in psoriatric arthritis?
often have the unusual combination of coexistence of erosive changes and new bone formation
periostitis
‘pencil-in-cup’ appearance
What rheumatoid arthritis factor has the highest specificity?
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
What kind of nodes suggest OA?
Herbeden’s nodes
X ray findings in ankylosing spondylitis?
sacroiliitis: subchondral erosions, sclerosis
squaring of lumbar vertebrae
‘bamboo spine’ (late & uncommon)
syndesmophytes: due to ossification of outer fibers of annulus fibrosus
chest x-ray: apical fibrosis
What is given in temporal arteritis if evolving visual losss?
IV methylprednisolone
Interactions of methotrexate?
avoid prescribing trimethoprim or co-trimoxazole concurrently - increases risk of marrow aplasia
high-dose aspirin increases the risk of methotrexate toxicity secondary to reduced excretion
Poor prognostic features of RA?
rheumatoid factor positive
anti-CCP antibodies
poor functional status at presentation
X-ray: early erosions (e.g. after < 2 years)
extra articular features e.g. nodules
HLA DR4
insidious onset
Mneumonic for SLE?
Serositis: pleurisy or pericarditis
Oral ulcers
Arthritis
Photosensitivity
Blood: anaemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia
Renal disorder: lupus nephritis - minimal mesangial, mesangial proliferative, focal, diffuse, membranous and advanced sclerosis
Antinuclear antibody
Immunology: anti-Smith, anti-ds DNA and antiphospholipid antibody
Neurologic disorder: seizures or psychosis
Malar rash
Discoid rash
Features of Behcet’s?
1) oral ulcers 2) genital ulcers 3) anterior uveitis
Things metnioned in FRAX scoring tool?
history of glucocorticoid use
rheumatoid arthritis
alcohol excess
history of parental hip fracture
low body mass index
current smoking
Most common occular complication in temporal arteritis?
anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
results from occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery
In young adults with septic arthritis, what is the most common organism?
Neisseria gonorrhoea
Highly specific tests for SLE?
Anti dsDNA
Anti-smith
If a patient has diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and renal disease what medication should they be started on?
Ace Inhibitor
What is hydroxychloroquine used in?
Management of rheumatoid arthritis and SLE
Mneumonic for Felty’s syndrome?
SANTA:
- Splenomegaly
- Anaemia
- Neutropenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Arthritis
First line for acute management of gout?
NSAIDs or colchicine are first-line
If have a duodenal ulcer give colchicine
What is keratoderma blenorrhagica?
waxy yellow/brown papules on palms and soles
Investigations of polymyalgia rheumatica?
raised inflammatory markers e.g. ESR > 40 mm/hr
note creatine kinase and EMG normal
Hyperparathyroidism effects on calcium and phsophate
calcium is high as PTH works to increase free calcium by increasing renal reabsorption, reducing phosphate reabsorption (hence phosphate is low) and increasing calcium reabsorption from the bones (hence ALP is raised
What antiboies are associated with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis?
anti-scl-70
What antiboies are associated with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
anti-centromere antibodies
Most useful tool to assess hypermobility?
Beighton score
Adverse effect of hydroxycholoroquine?
bull’s eye retinopathy - may result in severe and permanent visual loss
First line for polymyalgia rheumatica?
Oral predinsolone
X ray findings in pseudogout?
chondrocalcinosis
in the knee this can be seen as linear calcifications of the meniscus and articular cartilage
Adverse effects of interferon-alpha?
flu-like symptoms and depression
Ankylosing spondylitis features - the ‘A’s
Apical fibrosis
Anterior uveitis
Aortic regurgitation
Achilles tendonitis
AV node block
Amyloidosis
What is CREST sundroke?
calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, oesophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia
Features of polymyositits?
proximal muscle weakness +/- tenderness
Raynaud’s
respiratory muscle weakness
interstitial lung disease
e.g. fibrosing alveolitis or organising pneumonia
seen in around 20% of patients and indicates a poor prognosis
dysphagia, dysphonia
around 30% of dermatomyosis patients have antibodies to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (anti-synthetase antibodies), including:
antibodies against histidine-tRNA ligase (also called Jo-1)
antibodies to signal recognition particle (SRP)
anti-Mi-2 antibodies
Next step in ankylosing spondylitis after oral NSAIDS?
TNF-alpha blockers
What needs to be checked when starting on azathioprine?
thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) test may be needed to look for individuals prone to azathioprine toxicity.
Pharmacologial treatment for Raynauds?
Nifedipine
Cautions of using sulfasalazine?
G6PD deficiency
allergy to aspirin or sulphonamides (cross-sensitivity)
Joint aspiration in pseudogout?
weakly-positively birefringent rhomboid-shaped crystals
Why prescribe folate once a week in patients on methotrexate?
Reduce risk of bone marrow suppression
Management of flares of RA>
Oral or IM corticosteroids
If eGFR less than 30 what can be used to prevent pathological fractures in bony metastases?
Denosumab
What are Gottron’s papules?
roughened red papules over extensor surfaces of fingers
Features of osteomalacia?
bone pain
bone/muscle tenderness
fractures: especially femoral neck
proximal myopathy: may lead to a waddling gait
Who to start oral bisphosphaonates in without doing a DEXA scan?
- Anyone with a BMD <-2.5 on DEXA
- Anyone 75 or Over with a Fragility Fracture
- Anyone on High Dose Corticosteroids (>7.5mg for >3months)
Type IV hypersensitvitiy reaction?
Delayed
T cell mediated ones