Rheumatoid Arthritis Flashcards
(101 cards)
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic systemic autoimmune disorder
How is rheumatoid arthritis described?
- Inflammation in connective tissues, primarily in joints
- Course and severity variable
- Most prevalent inflammatory arthritis
- Chronic pain, alterations in body image
What are transformed antibodies called?
Rheumatoid factors
Normal antibodies become what in rheumatoid arthritis?
Autoantibodies
In rheumatoid arthritis- leukocytes become attracted to what?
Synovial membrane
In rheumatoid arthritis- what ingests the immune complex to release enzymes?
Neutrophils and macrophages
What type of immune response occurs in a generally susceptible host resulting in rheumatoid arthritis?
Aberrant
The inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis causes what?
- Hemorrhage
- Coagulation
- Fibrin deposits on synovial membrane
The formation of pannus tissue results in an abnormal what?
Tissue layer within synovial membrane
The formation of pannus tissue leads to what?
- Greater loss of bone and cartilage
- Scar formation
What is the most common form of arthritis in older adults?
osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects which gender more?
Women
What is the typical age for onset of rheumatoid arthritis?
Between 40 to 60 years of age
Remissions of rheumatoid arthritis most likely occur when?
In the first year of the disease
What is the cause of Rheumatoid arthritis?
It is unknown
What are the risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Family history
- Female sex
- Obesity
- Heavy smokers- can be reduced if you stop
What are the clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Joint deformity
- Redness, warmth, pain, swelling of affected sites
What are the clinical manifestations of the active phase of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Fever
- Anorexia
- Fatigue
What can be said about the stiffness a patient will experience when they have rheumatoid arthritis?
- More pronounced in morning, lasting more than 1 hour
- May occur with prolonged rest during the day
- May be more severe after strenuous activity
What are the five ways that the onset of joint issues in rheumatoid arthritis can be described?
- Usually insidious with stiffness
- May be acute, precipitated by stressor
- May be preceded by systemic manifestations of inflammation
- Polyarticular, symmetrical
- Rate of development can fluctuate
What are the three types of joint manifestations in the hands and fingers due to rheumatoid arthritis?
- Ulnar deviation
- Boutonniere deformity
- Swan neck deformity
What types of joint manifestations of the knee occur due to rheumatoid arthritis?
- Visible swelling
- Instability
- Quadriceps atrophy
In rheumatoid arthritis patients what is a nearly universal joint manifestation?
Wrist involvement
What happens to the spine if you have rheumatoid arthritis?
- Usually limited to cervical vertebrae
- Neurological complications