Spondyloarthropathies

Question 1

spondyloarthropathy

Answer 1

family of inflammatory arthritides characterised by involvement of the spine & joints principally in genetically predisposed individuals

Question 2

mechanical back pain

Answer 2

worsened by activity, typically worse at end of day, better with rest

Question 3

inflammatory back pain

Answer 3

worse with rest, better with activity, early morning stiffness

Question 4

what are the shared rheumatological features of the spondyloarthropathies?

Answer 4

SIJ & spinal involvement
enthesitis
inflammatory arthritis
dactylitis

Question 5

enthesitis

Answer 5

inflammation at insertion of tendons into bones

Question 6

dactylitis

Answer 6

“sausage digits”

inflammation of entire digit

Question 7

what are the 4 disease subgroups in spondyloarthropathies?

Answer 7

ankylosing spondylitis
psoriatic arthritis
reactive arthritis
enteropathic arthritis

Question 8

what are the shared extra-articular features of the spondyloarthropathies?

Answer 8

ocular inflammation
mucocutaneous lesions
rare aortic incompetence or hear block
no rheumatoid nodules

Question 9

ankylosing spondylitis

Answer 9

chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the spine

Question 10

what is the hallmark of ankylosing spondylitis?

Answer 10

SIJ involvement (sacroiliitis)

Question 11

when does ank. spond. usually present?

Answer 11

late adolescence or early adulthood

Question 12

which sex is ank. spond more common in?

Answer 12

men

Question 13

what are the 7 As of ank. spond?

Answer 13

Axial arthritis 
Anterior uveitis 
Aortic regurgitation 
Apical fibrosis 
Amyloidosis/Ig A nephropathy 
Achilles tednonitis 
plAntar fasciitis

Question 14

psoriatic arthritis

Answer 14

inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis but can occur without

Question 15

what is rheumatoid factor in psoriatic arthritis?

Answer 15

negative

Question 16

what are the 5 clinical subgroups of psoriatic arthritis?

Answer 16

• Confined to DIP in hands/feet
• Symmetric polyarthritis
• Spondylitis with/without peripheral joint involvement
• Asymmetric oligoarthritis with dactylitis
• Arthritis mutilans

Question 17

spondylitis

Answer 17

spine involvement

Question 18

reactive arthritis

Answer 18

Infection induced systemic illness characterized primarily by an inflammatory synovitis from which viable microorganisms cannot be cultured

Question 19

how long after infection do the symptoms of reactive arthritis usually occur?

Answer 19

1-4 weeks

Question 20

which age group does reactive arthritis usually affect?

Answer 20

20-40 year olds

Question 21

reiter’s syndrome

Answer 21

a form of reactive arthritis

• urethritis
• conjunctivitis/uveitis/iritis
• arthritis

Question 22

what is the prognosis of reactive arthritis like?

Answer 22

Generally good
Recurrences not uncommon
Some develop a chronic form

Question 23

enteropathic arthritis

Answer 23

associated with IBD

Question 24

what happens to symptoms of enteropathic arthritis during flare ups of IBD?

Answer 24

worsen

Question 25

what gene are spondyloarthropathies associated with?

Answer 25

HLA B27