Inflammatory arthritis Flashcards
(39 cards)
Clinical presentation - inflammatory arthritis
- can be stilted/ crouched
- arthralgia (subtle to severe)
- may present as ataxia
What is the first investigation of arthralgia?
Cytological evaluation of joint flud to determine if purulent or sterile.
- If purulent, run C+S, suggests septic arthritis
- If sterile, C+S negative, run other tests (CBC, biochem, ultrasound, thoracic rads, echocardiography, further blood work)
Methods to investigate arthralgia
- rads.
- arthrocentesis
- synovial investigation
- systemic investigation (thorough PE, hx, CBC/ biochem)
Why might arthrocentesis be useful?
- to determine if septic vs. immune-mediated
- look for increased neutrophils (+/- lymphocytes)
- degenerate neutrophils = septic
- non-degenerate = immune-mediated
Why might rads. be useful for inflammatory arthritis dx?
- to determine if septic/ immune-mediated
- acute: normal (may be primary dz)
- sub-acute/ chronic: erosion of cartilage/ sub-chondral bone
Describe normal synovial fluid
- clear
- pale
- yellow
- high viscosity
Causes - septic arthritis
- haematogenous: from focus elsewhere
- traumatic (esp horses): lacerations, punctures
- Iatrogenic (often ‘aseptic’ procedures): intra-articular injections of PSGAG - rare, sx
Tx - septic arthritis - SA
- AB (amox/clav acid)
- no difference b/w sx and medical tx
- 94% infxn will resolve
- may need to remove implants d/t infxn
- 6wk course AB, based on culture results
Tx - septic arthritis - EQ
- acute infxn = emergency
- eliminate organisms from joint
- eliminate enzymes and mediators that cause cartilage destruction
- AB/ Through and through lavage/ arthrocopy and artrotomy
- intra-articular ABs, IV ABs (penicillin and gentamicin)
- resample joitn fluid every 48 hr
- oral AB
- AB on C+S, IV to start (amox/clav acid), possible local delivery (gentamicin, impregnated sponges), intrasynovial catheters. Tx even if negative C+S result if there is a response to empirical ABs.
- daily changed dressings for wounds
- early stages rest
- Px excellent if tx rapidly
- physio/hydro to reduce adhesions and prevent periarticular fibrosis
Px - septic arthritis - EQ
- increased with prompt recognition, aggressive tx and local AB
- other factors: intended use, structures involved, concurrent bone involvement
Define IMPA
Immune-mediated polyarthritis
Aetiology -IMPA
- Ab/Ag complex –> formation of inflammatory products
- Host IgG and M bind to altered autologous IgG
- Ag/Ab complex deposited on synovium –> neutrophil/ macrophage chemotaxis
Aetilogy - erosive IMPA
- cellular or humoral immunopathogenic factors
- release of chondrodesctuctive collagenases/ proteases
- failure of self-tolerance or production of immunogenic immunoglobulins
- plasma cells/ BCs –> RF –> synovium –> activated synoviocytes –> IL1, collagenases etc –> osteoclasts cause bone resorption and subchondral bone cysts –> pannus formation (i.e. GT formation) –> fibroblast proliferation leads to contracture and limb deformation
What are the autoimmune aspects of IMPA - 2
- clones of potentially autoaggressive cells originally inactivated in the thymus proliferate
- hypersensitivity reaction
Risk factors - autoimmune dz - 7
- hereditary component - beagles
- certain ifxn (GpA strep pharyngitis –> acute rheumatic fever)
- bacterial endocarditis
- discospondylitis
- IMBD
- neoplasia (various)
- chronic hepatitis
What is a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction?
- immediate/ anaphylactic reaction
- IgE –> mast cells, basophils
What is type 2 hypersensitivity?
- Ab-dependent cytotoxic reaction
- IgG or IgM against a cell-surface component
What is type 3 hypersensitivity?
- Immune-complex mediated reaction
- Large amounts of IgG or IgM plus Ag –> microprecipitates
- clinical manifestations depend on where complexes form/ lodge
- immune-mediated arthritis: immune-complexes generated locally (joint) or systemically or both
What is type 4 hypersensitivity?
- cell-mediated/ delayed-type reaction
- intra-cellular organism
Outline features of immune-mediated arthritis
- polyarticular dx (6+ joints), occasionally pauciarticular (2-5), rarely monoarticular (this is more likely septic arthritis)
- Chronic dz, d/t:
- continual or recurrent presence of inciting Ag
- failure of normal down-regulation when inciting Ags gone
- initial damage to host tissues resulting in exposure of altered self-antigens
Ddx - palmigrade stance (carpus sinking)
- carpal hyperextension injury
- IMPA
- endocrine dz (Cushings, both usually causes palmi- and planti- grade stance)
How to examine patient with suspect IMPA
- observe walking, stiffness, difficulty rising
- general PE - pyrexia, depression, anorexia
- palpation and manipulation +/- sedation
- ROM, pain, heat, swelling, crepitus, assess ligament laxity
With IMPA, how many animals tend to be lame vs. joint effusion?
- 35% lame
- 40% joint effusions
Causes non-erosive PA
- Type 1 (uncomplicated idiopathis) commonest = 50%
- Type 2 (associated with remote infections, reactive arthritis), 25%
- Type 3 (associated with GIT dz/ hepatic 15%)
- Type 4 (associated with remote neoplasia),