Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies Overview

A condition causing pain and stiffness in the shoulder and hip girdle muscles, typically in elderly women.

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, excluding other inflammatory conditions. Morning stiffness, symmetric pain in shoulder/hip, usually over 50 yrs old are key indicators.

Inflammation of the arteries, often impacting medium/large arteries, commonly causing headache (difficult to treat), jaw pain, and potentially visual problems.

Headache (sensitive to touch), jaw pain (claudication), visual problems (diplopia, amaurosis fugax),fatigue, weight loss are common features, often onset is sudden.

Corticosteroids (low-dose prednisone) are the standard treatment for PMR, inducing rapid response, although sometimes for prolonged periods.

Treatment for GCA typically involves high-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and address symptoms. Early diagnosis and intervention due to the significant risk of vascular issues.

Diagnosing PMR involves excluding other inflammatory conditions with similar symptoms.

GCA involves transmural inflammation of artery walls, leading to potential occlusion of blood vessels.

Episodic narrowing of blood vessels, causing color changes and pain in fingers/toes, triggered by cold or stress.

Raynaud phenomenon without an underlying disease.

Raynaud phenomenon linked to another condition, often autoimmune, like scleroderma.

Color changes (white, blue, red) in fingers/toes, pain, numbness, tingling, and possible swelling.

Blood vessels narrow due to stress or cold, resulting in circulation issues and skin color changes

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually begins gradually, with subtle symptoms.

Early RA often involves general body aches, fatigue, and weight loss, along with joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.

RA commonly affects small joints in the hands, wrists, and feet, and typically involves at least three joint groups.

RA characteristically causes morning stiffness that lasts at least an hour, sometimes throughout the morning.

RA involves swollen and 'boggy' joints, while osteoarthritis (OA) does not have this characteristic.

Long-term RA can lead to deformities in the hand, including boutonniere, swan neck, and ulnar deviation.

RA diagnosis requires synovitis in at least one joint, absence of other causes, and a score of at least 6 based on joint involvement, blood tests, and symptom duration.

RA physical examination assesses joints for pain, swelling, range of motion, and deformities, and checks for extra-articular features like nodules, eye problems, and lung issues.

Diagnosing lupus is complex and often involves a process of elimination. It requires ruling out other potential conditions with similar symptoms.

While lab tests for lupus can be nonspecific, certain tests are crucial. Elevated ESR and CRP indicate systemic inflammation, while CBC reveals anemia and potential blood cell count abnormalities.

A positive ANA test is a hallmark of lupus, although it's not specific. A negative ANA significantly reduces the likelihood of lupus.

Managing lupus involves a multi-pronged approach, focusing on lifestyle modifications, medication, and close monitoring. It's important to avoid prolonged sun exposure, maintain moderate activity levels, and pay attention to diet and cardiovascular health.

While no specific diet triggers lupus, a healthy diet can significantly impact the disease. It's important to manage risk factors like atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.

Medications for lupus can include NSAIDS for pain, hydroxychloroquine for various symptoms, and corticosteroids as a mainstay treatment.

Vasculitis is a group of serious disorders characterized by inflammation and damage to blood vessels. It can lead to tissue necrosis and multi-organ dysfunction.

Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial for vasculitis as it can be fatal if left untreated. Prompt recognition is critical to improving patient outcomes.

Treatment is not needed for asymptomatic stage 1 and 2 sarcoidosis. Corticosteroids are the main treatment for more severe stages. The condition can resolve spontaneously within 1-2 years.

The most common childhood arthritis, also known as Still's disease, with an unknown cause. Diagnosed when persistent arthritis affects children under 16 for more than 6 weeks.

Pain, stiffness (worse in the morning), joint swelling and warmth are common. Systemic symptoms like fever, fatigue, and weight loss are more prominent in some types.

Growth disturbances can occur due to JIA, leading to premature bone fusion, overgrowth, and limb length differences.

Mainly used for oligoarthritis, NSAIDs don't alter the disease course but help with pain, stiffness, and fever.

Methotrexate is the cornerstone of medical management for JIA, controlling the disease.

Used minimally due to potential negative effects on bone and growth. They are not a long-term solution.

Physical changes due to long-term steroid use, including truncal obesity, buffalo hump, and moon face.

Factors that increase the chance of developing stomach problems while on steroids.

Individuals with a history of severe stomach ulcers or multiple risk factors.

People with one or two risk factors, such as older age or high steroid doses.

Those with no known risk factors for stomach issues.

Steroids can cause your body to hold onto more water, which can be a problem for people with heart or kidney issues.

A type of steroid medication that targets a specific protein involved in inflammation.

A non-biologic steroid medication used to treat inflammation.