Pathophysiology II Flashcards
test 1
T or F?
RA is a systemic autoimmune disorder (abnormal antibodies attack your own body) that affects the joints and connective tissues of the body
True
Who does RA mostly affect?
Young and middle-aged women, usually in the small joints of hands and feet
What does RA overall do?
Produces chronic inflammation and thickening of the synovial membrane of joints
T or F?
RA can often cause sx’s of chronic illness by affecting the blood vessels, heart, and lung
True
What are some other conditions that RA includes under its umbrella?
Juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis, and dermamyositis
T or f?
The pathophysiology of RA is not fully understood
True
How does RA being?
Begins as a state of persistent cellular activation, leading to autoimmunity and immune complexes in joints and other organs
Where is the initial disease site of RA? What happens there?
Synovial membrane (synovitis) - swelling and congestion results in immune cells coming in, leading to pain, stiffness, and limited ROM. Synovitis leads to hypertrophy and excessive synovial fluid
What is the vascular granulation tissue called that dissolves collagen as it extends over the articular cartilage, destroying joint tissues?
Pannus - the dissolved cartilage can lead to adhesions, fibrosis, or bony anklyosis (stiffness/fixation of jt)
What are the three phases of progression of RA and what are they caused by?
- Initiation phase - caused by non-specific inflammation
- Amplication phase - caused by T cell activation
- Chronic inflammatory phase - tissue injury occurs from cytokines, interleukins 1 and 6, and tumor necrosis factor - alpha
Ra is highest in women at what percent?
69%
What is the mean age of diagnosis of RA?
56 yo
In affected pts, RF is present in what percent of them?
66%
What percent of affected patients show evidence of erosions in the first year?
20%
What is the rate of people being diagnosed with RA in the US?
41 per 100,000 people
How many people are estimated to have RA in the US?
1.5 million
What provokes our immune system into action, causing it to respond directly or by production of antibodies?
Antigens
What makes RA an autoimmune disease?
People who have RA produce antibodies to fight their own antibodies like RF or ACPA
T or F? RA is believed to be hereditary and can be triggered by viral infections
True
What greater risk are you at if a first degree family member is diagnosed with RA?
4x higher risk of developing RA
What are some environmental factors that can predispose you to RA?
Chemicals, pollution, secondhand smoke, and trauma
In women, can hormonal changes trigger RA?
Yes
What is the most strongly associated risk factor of RA and by what % does it increase your risk?
Smoking increases risk of RA by 2. 4%
T or F?
RA produces no noticeable deformities and destruction of the MCP joints
False - there is noticeable deforming and destruction of the MCP joints