Rheumatologic Diseases Study Pack Flashcards

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Rheumatoid arthritis

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A chronic autoimmune synovitis causing symmetrical polyarthritis, typically affecting small joints of the hands and feet. It can lead to joint erosion and deformity and is associated with morning stiffness lasting >30 minutes.

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Systemic lupus erythematosus

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A multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production (eg, anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm) causing diverse manifestations including arthritis, skin rash, nephritis, and cytopenias. Disease activity fluctuates with flares and remissions and often affects women of childbearing age.

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Ankylosing spondylitis

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A seronegative spondyloarthropathy characterized by inflammatory back pain, sacroiliitis, and progressive spinal fusion. It often begins in young adults and is strongly associated with HLA-B27.

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Psoriatic arthritis

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An inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis that can present with asymmetric oligoarthritis, distal interphalangeal involvement, dactylitis, and nail changes. Radiographs may show pencil-in-cup deformities and enthesitis is common.

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Gout

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An inflammatory arthritis caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints, often presenting with sudden, severe monoarthritis (commonly the first MTP). Hyperuricemia is a risk factor but not diagnostic by itself.

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Pseudogout

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An acute calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) that causes inflammatory arthritis resembling gout but with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals on synovial fluid analysis. It commonly affects the knee and elderly patients.

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Polymyalgia rheumatica

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An inflammatory condition in older adults causing proximal muscle stiffness and pain (shoulders, hips) with marked morning stiffness but without true muscle weakness. It responds rapidly to low-dose glucocorticoids and can be associated with giant cell arteritis.

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Giant cell arteritis

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A large-vessel vasculitis affecting older adults, often involving the temporal arteries and causing new-onset headache, jaw claudication, and risk of sudden vision loss. Prompt high-dose corticosteroid treatment is required to prevent irreversible ischemic complications.

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Systemic sclerosis

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A connective tissue disease characterized by skin thickening, Raynaud phenomenon, and internal organ fibrosis (eg, lungs, GI tract). Autoantibodies such as anti-centromere and anti-topoisomerase (Scl-70) can help with subtype classification.

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Sjögren's syndrome

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An autoimmune disorder targeting exocrine glands, leading to dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and dry mouth (xerostomia). It can be primary or secondary to other autoimmune diseases and is associated with anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies.

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Reactive arthritis

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An asymmetric oligoarthritis that typically follows a genitourinary or gastrointestinal infection, often with conjunctivitis and urethritis (formerly Reiter syndrome). It is part of the spondyloarthritis spectrum and can be associated with HLA-B27.

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Osteoarthritis

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A degenerative joint disease marked by cartilage loss, osteophyte formation, and joint space narrowing, causing pain that worsens with use and improves with rest. It commonly affects knees, hips, and DIP joints of the hands.

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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

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A group of inflammatory arthritides occurring in children under 16 characterized by persistent arthritis for at least 6 weeks. Subtypes include oligoarticular, polyarticular, and systemic forms, each with distinct clinical features and complications.

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Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

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A small-vessel vasculitis (formerly Wegener granulomatosis) involving the upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys, associated with c-ANCA (PR3-ANCA). It presents with sinusitis, pulmonary nodules, hematuria, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in severe cases.

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Antiphospholipid syndrome

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An autoimmune hypercoagulable state caused by antiphospholipid antibodies leading to recurrent arterial or venous thromboses and/or pregnancy morbidity. Diagnosis requires clinical events plus persistently positive laboratory tests (eg, lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin).

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Cryoglobulinemia

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A syndrome where immunoglobulins precipitate at cold temperatures, causing small-vessel vasculitis with purpura, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy. It is often associated with chronic infections like hepatitis C and can lead to renal involvement.