Week 3- clinical presentation and diagnosis Flashcards
what are some of the signs and symptoms of RA?
all patients are different and may experience Fever, malaise(weakness/discomfort), weakness which normally occurs before joint inflammation is visible
where can RA occur and what may occur at the joints due to inflammation?
-small synovial lined joints like hands knuckles wrists and feet poly arteritis
- inflammation - pain, tenderness, swelling, stiffness, redness
and joint warmth
-• Inflammation, destruction of bone and cartilage
• Deformity, limited motion, pain on motion
what can occur due to progressive articular deterioration?
loss of function
what are some general symptoms of RA?
weight loss, fatigue, mental health changes
what other organs can RA affect?
lungs= pulmonary fibrosis,
heart= increased cvd, double risk of myocardial infraction
eyes= dry eyes
skin
bones
RA nodules- firm lumps that occur at fingers elbows occur in 20% of patients, these patients have increased severity of disease
comorbities can increase the patients risk of what?
- cvd= heart disease= 1/3 deaths in RA, due to inflammation of blood vessles, changes to clotting and chances to cholesterol
- risk of infection
- risk of respiratory disease
- risk of osteoporosis,
- risk of malignancy
- risk of depression
what is looked for in blood tests for RA?
- Inflammatory markers
- Immunological parameters
what is under inflammatory markers for blood tests when looking at RA signs and symptoms?
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)= shows degree of inflammation within joints, increase within 24-48hrs of inflammation
- C-reactive protein (CRP)= degrees of inflammation produced due to innate Immune responses, 4-6hrs after inflammation
what is under immunological parameters for blood tests when looking at RA signs and symptoms?
- Rheumatoid factor (RF)= autoantibody but 30-40% of patients dont have it and other diseases can show positive test, 0 positive shows more servere
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA)=autoantibody only present in 40% of patients shows degrees of disease
- Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)= not all a patients have it
what can radiology do for signs and symptoms of RA?
- show damage and inflammation within the joint
- early stages might not
what is the motion like for RA patients on examination?
- hard to form first
- limitation due to pain and stiffness
- squeeze tests if gelling if felts shows tenderness in RA patients
how is RA diagnosed?
-not one test will provide diagnosis
-complete history taking=morning stiffness for greater than 30mins, Stiffness after quiescence
Family history
Lifestyle,
-clinical presentation= Symmetrical effects
on synovial joints –
symptoms as
discussed
-investigations =Inflammatory markers
Haematological parameters
Immunological parameters
Radiological investigations
what does the NICE guidance say for RA for refferal and diagnosis?
-referral to primary care to specialist, refer those with suspected persistent
synovitis(inflammation of joints)
-Diagnosis= If found to have synovitis on clinical examination – Determine
Rheumatoid Factor, consider Anti-CCP antibodies (if negative for RF), x-ray hands
and feet.
-get paitent to fill out Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).
how to monitor a patients disease with RA?
use the DAS28= measure of the disease activity for 28 joints -A measure of disease activity – 4 different measures • Number of swollen joints (out of 28) • Number of tender joints (out of 28) • Measure ESR or CRP • ‘Global assessment of health’ • Giving overall disease activity score • Scores: • DAS 28 = >5.1 = active disease • DAS 28 = <3.2 = low disease activity • DAS 28 = <2.6 = remission
what is the management for RA and aims?
aims for management is to
• Minimising joint pain and swelling
• Preventing deformity and radiological damage (i.e. erosion)
• Maintaining QoL
• Controlling extra-articular manifestations
what is the treatment for RA?
• Analgesia – NSAIDs(not long term) RELIEVE PAIN AND STIFFNES
• DMARDs – Disease Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drug(long term)=Conventional DMARDs (cDMARD) – methotrexate, sulphasalazine, leflunamide
[hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, penicillamine, gold, ciclosporin
- Main goal of DMARD treatment = remission.
=Biologic DMARD- anti-TNF E.G(Adalimumab, Etanercept, certolizumab, golimumab,
infliximab)
Other biological=Tocilizumab / sarulimab – IL-6 receptor inhibitor
Rituximab – B-cell depletion of lymphocytes
Abatacept – Antibody blocking T-cells
Targeted DMARD= – JAK inhibitors – tofacitinib and baricitinib
what is treat to target for RA?
-target for the patient to reach for disease non-progression,
a strategy which should include frequent review, formal
assessment of joints and escalation of therapy if inflammation is still present until good control is reached.
• Patients have an individual target
• Requiring tight control
-some patients aims are for remission or low disease activity
-reviews can be monthly
what is first line for RA?
conventional Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (cDMARD) as
MONOTHERAPY, asap
E.G • Methotrexate (oral)
• Leflunamide
• Sulfasalazine
• [Consider as an alternative hydroxychloroquine (for mild palindromic disease)]
-choice is through drug characterisics, cations, side effects, dosing /
interactions / monitoring requirements and individuals patient
after first line what should be consider for the patients medication?
- Escalate dose as tolerated.
• Consider short term bridging with glucocorticoid therapy when starting a new DMARD for quick inflammation around joints fas cDMARD will take time to work. then it can be stopped
what is the step up strategy therapy for RA?
• When the treatment target has not been achieve (despite dose escalation)
• Offer ADDITIONAL cDMARD (oral methotrexate, leflunamide, sulphasalazine or
hydroxychloroquine)
-more intense monitoring monthly and risk of side effects
what drug can be added for symptom control of RA?
-COX-2 for stiffness and pain short term
-and PPI due to GI effects
• Lowest affective dose for shortest time
what is step-down strategy?
• If maintained for at least 1 year consider step-down strategy
• Return to previous DMARD regime if target no longer met
-can reduce one cDMARD then maybe remove
-could lead to flare ups
if DMARD doesn’t bring target that we require what can be done?
In severe disease (DAS28 >5.1) when not responded to combination cDMARD –
bDMARDs and tDARMDs may be considered
what is the treatment guidance given by the EULAR (European League
Against Rheumatism)
-METHATREXATE SHOULD BE FIRST TREATMENT
-IF CONTRAINDICATED FOR mtx, leflunomide or sulfasalazine should be
considered as part of the treatment strategy.
