What is the definition of rheumatoid arthritis?
A chronic systemic inflammatory disease, characterised by potentially deforming symmetrical polyarthritis and extra-articular features (systemic disease)
What age group does rheumatoid arthritis tend to develop in and what is the female to male ration?
30-50
3:1
What genes may contribute to the cause of rheumatoid arthritis?
HLA, DR4 and DR1
Give two factors which may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis?
2. Infective aetiology
Name two differences between a normal joint and a rheumatoid arthritis affected joint?
2. Synovial membrane is inflamed
In relation to the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis: what does the synovium become laden with?
Macrophages, fibroblasts and multi-nucleated giant cells (resemble osteoclasts)
In relation to the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis: what does the synovial membrane do?
Expands, actively invades and erodes surrounding bone and cartilage
Give four articular symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
Give four signs of rheumatoid arthritis?
In teh arthritis classification criteria - what is definite RA defined by (3 things)?
In the arthritis classification criteria - what are the 4 point scoring systems?
Give four investigations for rheumatoid arthritis?
Give four late complications of RA?
Is it a good prognosis if you are male and young at age of RA onset?
No
In RA what is the window of opportunity for treatment?
3 months
What is the first step treatment for RA?
Early initiation of disease modyfyfing drugs (DMARDs) with steroids to cover ‘lag phase’
What drugs used for RA are slow avting (weeks to months), reduce rate of joint damage?
DMARDs
Give a few examples of DMARDs?
4 biologic approaches have achieved major impact in RA - what do infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept belongto?
Tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibition
4 biologic approaches have achieved major impact in RA - what do Rituximab belong to?
B cell depletion
4 biologic approaches have achieved major impact in RA - what do Abatacept belong to?
Disruption of T cell costimulation
4 biologic approaches have achieved major impact in RA - what do anankira and tocilizumab belong to?
IL-1 inhibition and IL-6 inhibition
What four features define osteoarthritis?
What consists of predominantly collagen type 2 fibres linked by covalent bonds, conferring tensile strength?
Cartilage