Spondyloarthropathies Flashcards
What are the spondyloarthropathies?
Heterogenous group of inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases that have similar features
What inflammatory marker is seronegative/absent in spondyloarthropathies?
Rheumatoid Factor
What does seronegative RF in spondyloarthropathies indicate about their pathology compared to RA?
Spondyloarthropathies have different underlying pathology to RA
What genetic marker is associated with spondyloarthropathies?
HLA B27 gene
Why do spondyloarthropathies have similar clinical features?
They share the HLA B27 gene, which causes them to express similar features
What is the HLA B27 associated feature, sacroiliitis?
Inflammation of sacroiliac joint
What is the HLA B27 associated feature, uveitis?
Inflammation of uvea/middle eye layer
What is the HLA B27 associated feature, spondylitis?
Inflammation of ligaments and joints in spine
What direction does spondylitis usually develop in, in spondyloarthropathies?
Usually ascending
What is the HLA B27 associated feature, enthesitis?
Inflammation of enthesis (area where tendon/ligament meets bone)
What is the HLA B27 associated feature, upper lobe fibrosis?
Lung diseases that occur due to thickening and scarring of upper lobes of lungs
Give 3 examples of skin diseases that are associated with HLA B27?
Psoriasis
Keratoderma
Balanitis
What are the axial joints?
Joints in chest, spine, pelvis
What are the peripheral joints?
Joints in limbs except from shoulder and pelvic joints
Does HLA B27 cause involvement of axial joints only in spondyloarthropathies?
No, HLA B27 can also cause involvement of peripheral joints
What are the 4 HLA B27 associated features involving the heart?
Aortitis: inflammation of aorta
Valve disease
Heart block: heart doesn’t pump properly
Aortic root lesions:
What 2 main groups are spondyloarthropathies classed as?
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)
Peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA)
What are the 2 main groups of axSpA, and what determines the difference between the 2 groups?
If there is radiological evidence of sacroiliitis, it is classed as radiographic axSpA/Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
If there isn’t radiological evidence of sacroiliitis, it is classed as non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA)
What are the 4 main groups of pSpA?
psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
reactive arthritis (ReA)
IBD-associated arthritis/enteropathic arthritis,
undifferentiated spondyloarthritis