RA Flashcards
1
Q
Rheumatoid Arthritis
A
The body forms RF’s, antibodies, that attack healthy tissue
- Especially like to attack the synovium -> inflammation
- No cure
- treat early
2
Q
Stress is a factor in
A
autoimmune disorders
3
Q
Early RA
A
- affects joints symmetrically
- inflammation occurs where there is connective tissue
4
Q
RA Assessment
A
Symptoms are vague
- Rapid and acute or slow and progressive
- Occurs in winter
- weakness, fatigue, wt loss, low-grade fever
- Symptoms of joint inflammation
5
Q
Early presentation of joint inflammation
A
- UE joints: prox interphalangeal joints and metacarpophalangeal joints
- Slightly reddened, warm, tender, swollen, stiff
- Bilateral and symmetric
- Migratory arthritis
6
Q
Late presentation of joint inflammation
A
- Joint inflammation worsens
- More joints become involved
- Gel phenomenon
- Joint effusions
- Fingers may appear spindle like
- Muscle atrophy
- Decreases ROM
- TMJ or cervical joints
7
Q
Other assesssment
A
- Baker’s cysts (behind knee)
-
8
Q
Systemic assessment
A
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Wt loss
- May occur as flareups/ aka exacerbations
- sq nodules
- vasculitits- kidney and lung failure
- footdrop
- parasthesisa
9
Q
Lung invovement
A
Pleurisy
- Pneumonitis
- Interstitial fibrosis
- Pulm HTN
10
Q
Heart Involvement
A
- Percarditis
- Myocarditis
11
Q
Eye involvement
A
- Irtitis
- scleritis
12
Q
Sjogren’s Syndrome
A
- Dry eyes, xerostemia , vagianl dryness
- Lubrication
13
Q
Monitor quality of life
A
- mobility, fatiguw, physical appearnace
- support
- Exercbations
14
Q
RA diagnostics
A
- RA Specific ( Anti-CCP)
- Autoimmune disorder : RF and ANA
- Inflammation: ESR and HsCRP
- CBC, XR, Ct-scan, Bone Scan
15
Q
Arthrocentesis
A
- used to aspirate synovial fluid fro minflamed joint
- releievs pressure
- CLoudy fluid with increased WBC’s
- Post-care (24 hours)
Rest, ICe, oral analgesic
