Rheumatology Flashcards
(120 cards)
Differentials for an acute monoarthritis
Gout, pseudogout, pyogenic septic arthritis, reactive arthritis, haemarthrosis, osteomyelitis, monoarticular rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis
Define Adult-onset Still’s disease and give its features
An idiopathic autoinflammatory condition which commonly presents in young adulthood - characterised by a triad of arthritis (commonly knees, wrists and fingers), spiking fevers and a transient salmon-pink maculopapular rash
Adult-onset Still’s disease investigations
Hyperferritinaemia (1500 to >10,000), marked raised inflammatory markers, leucocytosis w/ neutrophilia
What are the Yamaguchi classification criteria?
Criteria used to diagnose Adult-onset Still’s disease - need to meet 5 criteria (including 2 major):
Major:
- Fever >39 for more than 7 days
- Arthralgias or arthritis for >2 wks
- Characteristic rash
- Leucocytosis w/ >80% neutrophils
Minor:
- Sore throat
- Lymphadenopathy
- Hepato/splenomegaly
- Raised aminotransferase
- -ve RF and ANA
Exclusion:
- Malignancy
- Infections
- Other CNT disorders
- Familial autoinflammatory conditions
- Drug reactions
Adult-onset Still’s disease management
NSAIDs and aspirin for mild disease, low-dose corticosteroids added when that isn’t enough
Severe disease w/ life-threatening organ manifestations require high-dose pulsed IV corticosteroids
Biological therapies = IL-1, TNF-alpha or IL-6 blockers
Ankylosing spondylitis features
- Inflammatory back pain - often early morning stiffness (gets better w/ activity), w/ tenderness of the sacroiliac joints and limited range of spinal motion on examination
- Enthesitis (inflammation of where ligaments attack to bone) - esp of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia
- Peripheral arthritis (1/3 or pts) - hips and shoulders
- Extra-articular involvement = anterior uveitis, aortitis and aortic regurgitation, upper lobe pulmonary fibrosis, IgA nephropathy
Ankylosing spondylitis physical examination findings
- Restricted movements in lumbar spine
- Dorsal kyphosis of the thoracic spine may be present as the disease progresses - can lead to reduced chest expansion
- C-spine movements can be globally reduced, with the neck forced into flexion by dorsal kyphosis
Ankylosing spondylitis imaging results
Pelvic X-ray:
- Sacroiliitis (better seen on MRI)
- Ankylosis or fusion of sacroiliac joint is seen in advanced disease
Lumbar X-ray:
- Squaring of vertebral bodies
- Syndesmophyte formation (bony bridges) between adjacent vertebrae + ossification of the spinal ligaments
- Complete fusion of the vertebral column (bamboo spine) in advanced disease
Ankylosing spondylitis management
Conservative: - critical to improve and maintain posture, flexibility and mobility
- Exercise
- Physio
Medical:
- NSAIDs + PPI 1st line
- DMARDs (sulfasalazine and methotrexate) for pts w/ peripheral joint disease - these don’t improve spinal inflammation
- Local steroid injection
- Biologics - anti-TNF 1st line, ant0IL17 2nd line
Antiphospholipid syndrome features
Mneumonic= CLOT
C = clots - usually venous thromboembolisms, but can be arterial
L = Livedo reticularis - a mottled, lace-like appearance on the skin of the lower limbs
O = obstetric loss
T = Thrombocytopenia
Antiphospholipid syndrome management
Prophylactic lose-dose aspirin
Control of thromboembolic RFs
In pts who have a venous thromboembolism = life long warfarin is used with a INR target of 2-3
How long should mechanical back pain take to clear up?
6 weeks
Red flag symptoms for back pain
- New onset when aged <20 or >55
- Thoracic or cervical spine pain
- Pain is progressive and not relieved by rest - suggestive of infection or cancer
- Spinal (rather than paraspinal) tenderness
- Early morning stiffness >30 min = ankylosing spondylitis
- Abnormal LL neuro signs = cord compression
- Trauma or sudden onset pain in pts w/ RFs for osteoporosis = possible vertebral fracture
Define Behcet’s disease
A rare multiorgan disease caused by systemic vasculitis of arteries and veins of all sizes, hypercoagulability and neutrophil hyperfunction - has an unknown cause, but is more common in Turks, Mediterranean’s and the Japanese
Behcet’s disease features
- Recurrent oral/genital ulceration
- Anterior or posterior uveitis
- Erythema nodosum
- Vasculitis
- Acneiform lesions
- Superficial thrombophlebitis at venepuncture sites
- Pathergy = pustules at sites of puncture or minor trauma
- Arthralgias and arthritis
Uncommon:
- Neuro involvement = cerebral vasculitis, venous sinus thrombosis
- Reso involvement = pulmonary vasculitis, PE, pulmonary haemorrhage
- GI vasculitis = abdo pain, mesenteric angina, constipation
- Cardiovascular involvement = MI, deep vein thrombosis
Behcet’s disease investigations
No specific test - more of a diagnosis of exclusion/clinical signs
Pathergy test (skin prick using a sterile needle then reassessing 48hrs later to see if papule/pustule has formed) can be used but is unreliable
Behcet’s disease management
Depends on the pt - some need immunosupression, some only need cover during flare-ups
Medication used = steroids, colchicine, azathioprine, methotrexate, biologics
Gout crystals - appearance and make up
Negatively birefringent, needle-shaped crystals - made up of monosodium urate
Pseudogout crystals - appearance and make up
Positively birefringent, rhomboid shaped crystals - made up of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate
What is the double-contour sign?
The most sensitive US finding for gout = a hyperechoic irregular band over the superficial margin of the articular cartilage
Define Enteric arthritis
An inflammatory arthritis associated w/ IBD - can occur before, during or after the diagnosis of IBD
Patterns of Enteric arthritis
Axial spondyloarthritis:
- Gradual onset lower back pain and stiffness, worse in the mornings and improves w/ exercise
- Sacroiliac tenderness reduced ROM and reduced chest expansion on examination
Acute peripheral arthritis of IBD:
- Asymmetric, oligoarticular arthritis predominantly of the LL
- Often transient and migratory join inflammation - episodes are usually self-limiting
- Strongly associated w. flares of IBD
Chronic peripheral arthritis of IBD:
- Chronic, polyarticular inflammation w/ disease independent of IBD activity
- Usually symmetrical and most commonly affects the metacarpophalangeal joints, knees and ankles
Enteric arthritis investigations
Bloods:
- Raised inflammatory markers
- RF and ANA -ve
- p-ANCA +ve seen in 55-70%
Radiology:
- Chronic peripheral arthritis = may show erosions of affected joints
- Axial disease = similar to ankylosing spondylitis
Enteric arthritis management
DMARDs for peripheral disease
TNF-alpha/IL12/IL23 inhibitors for axial disease