Rheumatology

Question 1

What symptoms and signs are found in polyarteritis nodosa?
PAN is a necrotising vasculitis causing aneurysms of medium sized arteries.

Answer 1

Cardiomegaly, dyspnoea (pulmonary infiltrates), abdominal pain (mesenteric infarct of viscus), arthralgia (joint pain without swelling), purpuric spots and neuropathy.

Question 2

Which antibodies are found in patients with SLE?

Answer 2

Most commonly low complement levels, anti-dSDNA (mainly in severe systemic involvement), and anti-cardiolipin antibodies, rheumatoid factor

Question 3

Takayasu’s disease is an idiopathic arteritis resulting in what range of symptoms and signs?

Answer 3

Constitutional symptoms (fever, anorexia), upper limb claudication, weak/absent pulses, as well as difference in BP readings in each arm (coarctation of aorta).

Question 4

What abnormalities can be seen on a FBC in SLE?

Answer 4

Anaemia of CD (normocytic anaemia)
Thrombocytopaenia
Neutropenia/Leukopenia

Question 5

Which investigations are diagnostic in polymyositis?

Answer 5

Raised CK, ANA and skin biopsy. (+/- EMG)
Anti-MI2 and anti-cytoplasmic antibodies can be associated too.