MSK Flashcards
(464 cards)
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Give 3 causes of inflammatory joint pain?
- Autoimmune (RA, connective tissue disease, spondyloarthropathy, vasculitis)
- Crystal arthritis
- Infection
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Give 2 causes of non-inflammatory joint pain?
- Degenerative (OA)
2. Non-degenerative (fibromyalgia)
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
What are the 5 main signs of inflammation?
- Red (rubor)
- Heat (calor)
- Pain (dolor)
- Swelling (tumour)
- Loss of function
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
How does inflammatory pain differ from degenerative non-inflammatory pain?
Inflammatory pain eases with use
Degenerative pain increases with use
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Are you more likely to see swelling in inflammatory or degenerative pain?
In inflammatory pain = synovial swelling
Often no swelling in degenerative
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
What is bone pain?
Pain at rest and at night
Can be due to tumour, infection, fracture
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
What is inflammatory joint pain?
Pain and stiffness in joints in the morning, at rest and with use
Can be inflammatory or infective
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Name 2 inflammatory markers that can be detected in blood tests
- ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
2. CRP
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Explain why ESR levels are raised in someone with inflammatory joint pain
Inflammation leads to increased fibrinogen –> RBC’s clump together –> RBC’s fall faster = increased ESR
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Explain why CRP levels are raised in someone with inflammatory joint pain
Inflammation leads to increased IL-6 levels –> CRP produced in response to IL-6 –> CRP raised
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Describe the ESR and CRP levels in someone with lupus
ESR raised
CRP low
RHEUM PHYSIOLOGY
Other than inflammatory markers, might be seen in blood tests when investigating joint pain?
Auto-antibodies = immunoglobulins that bind to self antigens
SPONDYLARTHRITIS
With what tissue type are all spondyloarthropathies conditions associated?
HLA B27 tissue type
SPONDYLARTHRITIS
Give 5 conditions that fall under the term spondyloarthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Reactive arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Enteropathic arthritis
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
SPONDYLARTHRITIS
Give the 3 main clinical features of spondyloarthritis
- Seronegative and HLAB27 association
- Axial arthritis
- Asymmetrical large joint arthritis
SPONDYLARTHRITIS
Give 6 signs of spondyloarthritis
SPINE ACHE
- Sausage digits = dactylics
- Psoriasis
- Inflammatory back pain
- NSAID responsive
- Enthesitis
- Arthritis
- Crohn’s/UC
- HLAB27
- Eye - uveitis
SPONDYLARTHRITIS
What is the general treatment for all spondyloarthritis?
Initially DMARDs and then biological agents if DMARDS fail (TNF blockers)
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
what is it?
a chronic, multi-system inflammatory disorder characterised inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and axial skeleton
ANKYLOSING SPONDYITIS
Describe the pathophysiology of ankylosing spondylitis
Inflammatory arthritis of spine + rib cage → leads to new bone formation + fusion of joints (syndesmophytes)
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
what is the epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis?
● More common and severe in men
● Usually presents in young adults – 16-30yrs
● 90% are HLA-B27 positive
● Women present later and are underdiagnosed
● Low incidence in Africa and Japan
● Native North Americans have high incidence
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
what is the clinical presentation of ankylosing spondylitis
pain + stiffness → worse with rest/at night + improves with movement
SYMPTOMS
- back pain
- reduced spinal movement
- dyspnoea
- peripheral arthritis + dactylitis
- painful red eye
SIGNS
- pain in buttock or along axial spine
- reduced lumbar flexion (when patient tries to touch toes)
- loss of lumbar lordosis
- reduced chest expansion
- asymmetrical peripheral joint pain (oligoarthritis)
- anterior uveitis
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect to have ankylosing spondylitis?
CRP + ESR - raised
HLA B27 genetic test
X-ray of spine + sacrum
- Bamboo spine
- Squaring of vertebral bodies
- dagger sign
- Subchondral sclerosis + erosions
- Syndesmophytes
- Ossification of ligaments, discs + joints
- Fusion of facet, SI + costovertebral joints
MRI spine - bone marrow oedema in early disease before x-ray changes
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
What is the diagnostic criteria for ankylosing spondylitis?
- > 3 months back pain
- Aged <45 at onset
- Plus one of the SPINE ACHE symptoms
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
What is the treatment for ankylosing spondylitis?
1st line
- regular exercise regimes
- NSAIDs
- corticosteroid injections
- DMARD (if NSAIDs not tolerated/ineffective) = ADALINUMAB, ETANERCEPT or INFLIXIMAB
2nd line
- surgery