Rheumatoid Arthritis Flashcards
(113 cards)
LO
Focus on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and how it affects patients
Understand its:
Epidemiology
Manifestations
Co-morbidities
Classification criteria
Early treatment requirements
Pt 2
- Risk factors
- shared epitope hypothesis
- role of autoantibodies
Pt3
- understand major cellualr + soluble factors involved in RA pathogenesis
Pt4
- understand current treatment strategies for RA+ consider future drug targets
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
autoimmune disease w chronic synovial inflammation that -> destruction of articular cartilage + bone
what does the chronic and persistent synovial inflammation lead to?
destruction of articular cartilage and bone
this causes a decline in joint function and progressive disability, what is the typical age range of onset?
40-70
what is the condition called if diagnosed below the age of 18
juvenile ideopathic arthritis
which gender is this more common in?
women
difference between amount of treatment options available for OA and RA?
OA: no treatment
RA: lots. can be treated better if diagnosed EARLIER
which two areas on the body are common sites for symmetrical polyarthritis and associated with pain and swelling?
small joints of hands and feet
do patients often experience pain in the morning or at night time which resolves throughout the day as the patient moves around?
morning
what lab features would you expect to see in a patient with RA?
↑ CRP and ESR,
presence of autoantibodies RF and ACPA
ultrasound showing erosive joint
why does RA improve with movement throughout day while OA gets worse?
RA: caused by swelling and oedema in joints. gets better w movement
how does level of acute phase reactants change in RA and give an example of type
increased
CRP
What joint does RA not typically involve?
axial skeleton - spine
AS (anylosing spondylitis) mainly affects which joint in which gender
mainly axial joints in men
RA is charactetrised by what pattern of joint involvement?
symmetrical.
predom hands and feet
synovium: thin memb few cells thick. what does it produce and why?
synovial fluid to allow joint to move
how can RA -> bone erosion and thinning of the cartilage
swollen inflamed synovial memb
becomes thicker + expands + influx of immune cells into it
makes whole thing get in way of normal joint funcn as its so swollen
how do OA and RA differ in terms of synovium?
OA: little/ no swelling
+ disease manifests initially as bone and cartilage surfaces
RA: swollen inflamed synovial memb
invasive synovium is called…
panus
starting to eat away at cartilage and bone
what systemic co morbidities are associated with this disease?
athersclerosis + heart disease,
vasculitis
lung inflammation + resistant scarring
why do patients being treated for RA have an infection risk?
immunosuppressed due to treatment with anti TNF + corticosteroids
comorbidities decrease life expectancy by average of 10 yrs. what can this be improved by?
earlier + better treatment
do patients with RA have a higher or lower risk of lung cancer and lymphoma?
higher
what changes can a patient make to reduce their RA symptoms and thus systemic inflammation?
stop smoking, control weight, bp and cholesterol and early and effective treatment