Session 7: Rheumatology Flashcards
Name conditions where alterations in the immune system contributes to the pathogenesis?
Rheumatologic immune-mediated diseases
Multiple sclerosis
Coeliac disease
Type 1 DM
What are the symtoms of RA?
Morning stiffness
Joint tenderness
swelling
pain on motion
difficulty in performing daily activities
What are the patient outcomes in RA?
Joint damage and physical disability - reduction in QOL and premature mortality
- disease activity is a good indicator of damage and physical activity. Shown in swollen joint counts, levels of acute phase reactants and composite indices of disease activity
Extra-articular features of RA occur in 18-41% of patients. What are they?
-Cardiac disease: vasculitis, pericarditis
-Pulmonary disease = rheumatoid nodules, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural effusion
-Nervous system: peripheral neuropathies
-Gastroenterology: splenomegaly
-Skin disease: rheumatic nodules, ulcers
-Eye disease: scleritis/episcleritis, Sjogren’s syndrome
-Haematological disease: anaemia, cytopenias
-Renal disease: glomerular nephritis
-Systemic: fever, weight loss, fatigue
How do cardiac features of RA present?
Myocardial: CHF, Left ventricular hypertrophy, amyloidosis
Valvular: vegetations, valvular nodles
Pericardial: pericardial effusion
Electrical: arrhythmias
Vascular: atherosclerosis, vasculitis, thrombosis
Describe the pathogenesis of RA?
- Pre-arthritis: susceptibility genes + environmental factors (e.g. smoking, bacteria, viruses) + epigenetic modifications + post-translational modifications (e.g. acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation)
- Loss of tolerance, development of autoantibodies (RF, ACPA)
- Asymptomatic synovitis (cellular infiltrate)
- Symptomatic arthritis
What are the principles of management of RA?
- Early diagnosis and management
- Achievement of disease control (remission state or low disease activity)
- Maintenance of tight control = disease-modifying therapy
- Control of symptoms (NSAIDS, steroids)
- Long-term care (management of morbidities, complications, effects on therapy
What are PROs?
Patient recorded outcomes
- Used to assess the treatment response
What is the Treat to Target (T2T) approach?
- Frequent periodic reassessment of disease activity
- Adjustment of DMARD regimen at least every 3-6 months
Adjunctive/ bridge therapy (NSAIDs/ steroids) - T2T is generally more important than the specific agent used
What tools are used for the assessment of disease activity in RA?
- DAS28 (disease acitivity score of 28 joints)
- SDAI (simple disease acitivty index)
- CDAI (clinical disease acitivity index)
What does the DAS28 measure?
- Physician assessment of Joint (number of swollen and tender joints
- Patient’s and physician’s assessment of disease activity
- Laboratory marker of inflammation
What does the SDAI measure?
Numerical sum of outcome of parameters:
Physician’s assessment of the joints
patient’s and physician’s assessment of disease activity
acute phase reactant measurement
What does the CDAI measure?
Incorporates the same elements of SDAI + DAS28 except that it does not require measuring acute-phase reactants and allows for immediate scoring.
What is the scoring system for DAS28 monitoring of RA disease activity?
<2.6 Remission
2.6-3.2 low disease activity
3.2-5.1 moderate disease activity
>5.1 high disease acitivity
What are the pros of DAS28 and what can it be used for?
Fast, easy and valid.
Used to monitor change in disease activity which can be used to estimate response to treatment.
What is the T2T pathway?
What does DMARD stand for?
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
What factors might influence treatment for RA?
Disability and function
Comorbidities
Joint damage
How is RA treated initially?
DMARD monotherapy
Comorbidity therapy
Symptomatic measurement
Regular monitoring: disease activity, drug toxicity, identification and management of morbidity
Give named examples of conventional synthetic DMARDS (csDMARDS)
Methotrexate
Leflunomide
Sulphasalazine
Hydroxychloroquine
What is the drug profile for Methotrexate?
Analog of folic acid
targets: folate-dependent processes, adensine signalling, methyl-donor production, ROS, adhesion-molecule expression, alteration of cytokine profiles, eicosanoids and MMPs
Side effects: Increased liver enzymes, pulmonary damage