Seronegative arthritis & spondyloarthropathies Flashcards
What are seronegative arthropathies? (5 types)
Arthritis in the absence of Rheumatoid factor or other autoantibody/serological abnormalities
Eg: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Reactive Arthritis (ReA), Enteropathic Arthritis (IBD) or undifferentiated spondyloparthropathy (SpA)
Ankylosing spondylitis (4)
An inflammatory disease of the spine and axial joints – Causes inflammatory back pain with increasing stiffness and kyphosis
Begins in the SI joint progressing upwards
Hips and shoulders can be involved in severe AS and are considered a poor prognostic sign
Epidemiology of AS
Typically affects young men (15-30yrs, M:F/3:1)
0.1-1% prevalence
Women may present differently, complaining of neck and breast pain instead of typical inflammatory back pain
New York criteria for diagnosis of AS
Limited lumbar movement OR Low back pain improved by exercise not relieved by rest for 3 months OR Reduced chest expansion
AND
Bilateral grade 2-4 sacroilitis on X-ray OR unilateral grade 3-4 sacroilitis on X-ray
Clinical signs of AS
Increased thoracic kyphosis and loss of lumbar and cervical lordosis
Progressive ankylosis of the spine leads to immobility (bamboo spine) – ossification of the lateral collateral ligaments and annulus fibrosus (syndesmophytes) – ‘squaring’ of the vertebrae, oestopenia of the bodies
Stages of AS (3,3)
Inflammatory –> Can V. painful during flares, hours of morning stiffness, Fatigue (lack of sleep due to pain at night)
Ankylosis –> Increasing stiffness and reduced ROM and increasingly abnormal posture
How to quantify spinal involvement in AS
Measure the occiput to wall distance (increases as posture changes) Chest expansion (reduced as joint fusion increases) -- protuberant abdomen from abdominal breathing Modified Schober test (lumbar spine flexion)
Laboratory tests for inflammation in AS
Inflammation –> FBC (normochromic/cytic anemia), raised CRP/ESR, thrombocytosis
Genetic test for HLA B27 – present in 95% of AS patients but only 6% of normal population
Psoriatic arthritis
A seronegative arthritis which usually presents as an inflammatory, peripheral mono- or oligo- arthritis (wrists or knees)
Rarely presents with polyarthritis or spinal disease
Arthritis Mutilans
A rare destructive arthropathy which can be seen in RA or PsA
Most commonly causes IP and MCP joint destruction with bone resorption and finger shortening (Opera-glass hands) – this eventually leads to paw like hands with subluxation and loss of function
Psoriatic Oligoarthritis
Arthritis effecting up to four joints in the first 6months of the disease classically
Epidemiology of Psoriatic arthritis
affects 6-42% of people with Psoriasis - precedes skin changes in 1/3 of cases
Onset at 30-50yrs, M=F for peripheral disease but axial disease is more common in men
Radiology of Psoriatic arthritis
classically effects the DIP joints and may cause subchondral bone resorption resulting in ‘pencil in cup’ appearance
Erosive changes seen but without osteopenia
How many ways can Psoriatic arthritis present?
Five – DIP involvement, Arthritis mutilans, Asymmetrical polyarthritis, Oligoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis.
May have palmar/plantar vesicles
Progression of Psoriatic Arthritis
Oligoarticular in 40-50%, Polyarticular in 30-50% (similar to RA)
Spinal disease is predominant in 5% – usually occur after many years of peripheral arthritis
DIP involvement in 5% and Arthritis mutilans in 5% (mildly erosive in 40-50%)
Poor prognostic factors for Psoriatic arthritis (6)
Younger age of onset
HLA B27 correlates to spondylitic involvement, HLA DR3/4 correlates with erosive disease
Extensive skin involvement or polyarticular involvement
Lack of response to NSAIDs or HIV co-infection
Spinal disease in Psoriatic arthritis
Sacroiliac involvement – sacroilitis in 1/3 patients, Usually unilateral and may be asymptomatic
Spinal involvement – Can affect any part of the spine in a random fashion, unlike AS
Reiter’s syndrome (reactive arthritis)
A seronegative asymmetrical post-infective arthropathy where there is at least one: Urethritis/cervicitis, Diarrhoea, Uveitis/conjunctivitis, circinate balanitis, oral ulceration (can also occur with HIV infection)
Rheumatic diseases excluded – usually last 3-6months
Bacteria most commonly found to trigger Reiter’s syndrome (1,5,4)
Definate:chlamydia trachomatis, salmonella species, shigella flexneri, yersinia enterocolitica/pseudotuberculosis, campylobacter jejuni,
Probable: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, streptococcus pyogenes, Ureaplasma, C Diff
Often can grow organism from synovium
Progression of Reiter’s syndrome
Simultaneous with infection or 3-4 weeks after
Self limiting but can be relapsing
Lower limb most commonly effected
40% spondylitis