This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.
Normal Joints vs RA Joints
Normal Joints |
RA Joints |
Normal, thin synovium surrounding joint space |
Synovial thickening, leading to panes formation |
Intact tendons and ligaments |
Loosening of tendon sheath and other periarticular structures, leading to joint deformities |
Well-defined joint space |
Joint space narrowing |
Smooth, intact cartilage surfaces providing protection to bone |
Erosion of articular surfaces, leading t bone erosion and osteoporosis |
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Overview of RA
Definition |
Complex systemic inflammatory condition manifesting initially as symmetric swollen and tender joints of the hands and/or feet |
RA effects ~1% of the worlds population |
RA arises from an immunologic reaction |
May be in response to genetic or infectious antigen |
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Risk factors
Female gender (3:1 female to males) |
Increasing age (peak onset 35-50 years of age) |
Current tobacco smoking |
Family history of RA |
Potential environmental exposures |
Drugs - oral contraceptive use, high ingestion of vitamin D |
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Comorbidities & Impact on Morbidity/Mortality
Cardiovascular disease |
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1/2 of RA deaths are cardiac in nature |
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Inflammation happens in places other than joints, including blood vessels |
Infections |
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RA leads to changes in cellular immunity and increases in infection risk |
Malignancy |
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Patients with RA have increase risk of cancer |
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Lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma |
Osteoporosis |
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RA causes increase in osteoclastic activity |
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Leads to bone loss |
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