Spondyloarthropathies Flashcards
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
A chronic inflammatory disease of the spine and sacroilliac joints
What antigen is associated with ankylosing spondylitis?
HLA-B27
Who does ankylosing spondylitis usually present in?
Males aged 20-30 years old
What does seronegative mean?
No rheumatoid factor in the blood
What is a spondyloarthropathy
An autoimmune disease that affects the joints
What does ankylosis mean?
Abnormal stiffening and immobility of joint due to new bone formation
What does HLA-B7 stand for?
Human leukocyte antigen 27
What are the 3 theories that link B27 with the disease?
- Molecular mimicry
- Mis-folding theory
- HLA B27 heavy chain homodimer hypothesis
Where does the inflammation occur in ankylosing spondylitis?
The site where the ligament, tendom and capsule insert into the bone. The enthesitis
What areas do infiltration and erosion occur?
- Intervertebral joints
- Facet joints
- Sacroilliac joints
What is a syndesmophyte and how does it form?
A small bone outgrowth at the joint edges which is caused by ossification of fibrous tissue resulting in new bone formation
What are the extra articular features of ankylosing spondylitis?
The ‘A’s
- Anterior uveitis
- Amyloidosis
- Apical lung fibrosis
- Aortic regurgitation
- AV node block
- Achilles tendonitis
What are the risk factors for ankylosing spondylitis?
- Male
- HLA-B27
- Bacterial environment
What is the typical presentation of ankylosing spondylitis?
Typically a young man who presents with lower back pain and stiffness
- Stiffness - worse in the morning and improves with exercise
- Pain at night which improves on getting up
- Pain radiates from sacroilliac joints to the hips/buttocks
- Progressional kyphosis
- Relapsing and remitting
- Asymmetrical joint pain
What are the signs of ankylosing spondylitis?
- Loss of lumber lordosis
- reduced lateral flexion
- Reduced forward flexion - Schobers test
- Reduced chest expansion due to progressive loss of spinal movements
- Enthesitis
- 5 As
What are the SPINEACHE signs?
S - sausage digit (dactylitis) P - psoriasis I - inflam back pain N - NSAIDs good response E - enthesitis (heel) A - arthritis C - crohns/ colitis H - HLA B27 E - eye (uveilitis)
What would you see on a blood test in ankylosing spondylitis?
- Inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) are typically raised although normal levels do not exclude ankylosing spondylitis.
- Normocytic anaemia
- HLA-B27 positive
What genetic testing would you do in ankylosing spondylitis?
HLA-B27 but this is normal in 10% of patients
What would you radiography show in ankylosing spondylitis?
- Bamboo spine
- Fusion of the sacroiliac joints
- Syndesmophytes
What non-pharmalogical treatment can you use in ankylosing spondylitis?
- Encourage regular exercise
- Physio and occupation therapy