First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD...

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Andrew Harrison Rheumatologist Wellington Regional Rheumatology Unit, HVDHB Bowen Centre, Crofton Downs, Wellington Assoc. Prof. in Medicine, University of Otago Wellington Clinical Leader, Research, CCDHB First Presentation of Joint Pain

Transcript of First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD...

Page 1: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Andrew Harrison

• Rheumatologist • Wellington Regional Rheumatology Unit, HVDHB • Bowen Centre, Crofton Downs, Wellington

• Assoc. Prof. in Medicine, University of Otago Wellington • Clinical Leader, Research, CCDHB

First Presentation of Joint Pain

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• Advisory board member for AbbVie NZ and Pfizer NZ • Research grants from Roche and Abbvie • Sponsorship to attend conferences from AbbVie, Roche and

Pfizer • Consultancy work for AbbVie to develop educational materials

for GPs and rheumatologists

Disclosures

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• No qualifications or experience in primary care

Disclaimer

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• To provide a structured approach to the assessment of new-onset arthritis

• To review the important data needed to inform diagnosis and prognosis

• To understand the influence of different patterns of clinical and laboratory features on diagnosis and prognosis

• To recognise the cases that require urgent referral and/or treatment to optimise long-term outcome

Learning Objectives

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Why Bother?

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Why Bother?

Page 7: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Rationale for Early Immunomodulatory Treatment

• In RA, early use of corticoteroids improves long-term outcome • DMARDs

• reduce symptoms • reduce erosive progression • reduce need for NSAIDs and long-term corticosteroids

• Early treatment associated with drug-free remission

Page 8: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Page 9: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Page 10: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Page 11: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Page 12: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 13: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 14: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

Page 21: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 22: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

Page 28: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 29: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 30: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 31: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

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Effective Use of Investigations

Page 33: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 34: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 35: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 36: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 37: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 38: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 39: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 40: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 41: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations

Page 42: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Effective Use of Investigations - Summary

• Base the choice of tests on the differential diagnosis • Different patterns of presentation require different tests • Avoid requesting irrelevant tests

Page 43: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Determining Urgency

Rationale for early immunomodulatory treatment • In RA, early use of corticoteroids improves long-term outcome • DMARDs

• reduce symptoms • reduce erosive progression • reduce need for NSAIDs and long-term corticosteroids

• Early treatment associated with drug-free remission

Urgency of treatment or referral determined by • prognostic indicators • value of early intervention • potential consequences of delaying treatment • current impact on patient

Page 44: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 45: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Determining Urgency

Small joint / distal inflammatory symptoms poor functional status objective synovitis MCP/MTP squeeze test extra-articular features (including systemic) acute phase response Rheumatoid factor and/or anti-CCP other lab features (e.g. ANA/ENA/dsDNA, ANCA/MPO/PR3)

Page 46: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 47: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Determining Urgency

Large joint / proximal – limb girdle inflammatory symptoms poor functional status extra-articular features (including systemic) GCA symptoms – visual, jaw claudication acute phase response

Page 48: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 49: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Determining Urgency

Large joint / proximal – knee and ankle inflammatory symptoms poor functional status extra-articular features (including systemic) acute phase response (less important) need for arthrocentesis

Page 50: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

A Diagnostic Algorithm

? mechanical ? degenerative ? neuropathic Consider: • OA • soft tissue

syndromes • FMS

Joint symptoms ? inflammatory ? non-inflammatory

• Pain helped by activity worse with activity

• Stiffness prolonged short-duration

• Restricted movement helped by activity fixed

• Swelling soft tissue hard tissue

Small joint / distal ? objective synovitis • swelling/tenderness • MTP squeeze Consider: • RA • PsA • ReA • CTD • viral • OA • haemochromatosis • vasculitis: HSP / GPA

Large joint / proximal Axial ? Inflammatory back pain ? SI / heel / costochondral Consider: • ankylosing spondylitis • psoriatic SpA • enteropathic SpA • Reactive SpA • degenerative spinal

disease • non-specific back pain

Limb girdle Consider • PMR • OA shoulders/hips • soft tissue syndromes • statin myopathy • RA

Knee/ankle Consider: •SpA – PsA / ReA •OA knee/ankle •sarcoidosis •polyarticular gout •pseudogout •RA •undifferentiated

Page 51: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Determining Urgency

Axial inflammatory symptoms poor functional status HLA-B27+ acute phase response

Page 52: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected RA •evidence to support early use of corticosteroids •e.g. prednisone 20 mg daily tapering over 4 – 8 weeks •while awaiting results or assessment for DMARDs

Page 53: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected RA •evidence to support early use of corticosteroids •e.g. prednisone 20 mg daily tapering over 4 – 8 weeks •while awaiting results or assessment for DMARDs

Can also be applied to •other peripheral inflammatory arthritides, e.g. PsA, ReA, viral

Page 54: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected vasculitis • multisystem inflammatory disease: neuro, renal, resp, skin joint • discuss with rheumatologist before treating • photographs can help

Page 55: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected vasculitis • multisystem inflammatory disease: neuro, renal, resp, skin joint • discuss with rheumatologist before treating • photographs can help

Suspected GCA • discuss with rheumatology registrar immediately • if unable to contact, prednisone can be started before biopsy • ideally CRP and ESR before stating treatment • biopsy within 3 weeks of commencement of prednisone

Page 56: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected vasculitis • multisystem inflammatory disease: neuro, renal, resp, skin joint • discuss with rheumatologist before treating • photographs can help

Suspected GCA • discuss with rheumatology registrar immediately • if unable to contact, prednisone can be started before biopsy • ideally CRP and ESR before stating treatment • biopsy within 3 weeks of commencement of prednisone

Suspected PMR • prednisone 15 mg daily 1/52, then 12.5 mg 1/52, then 10 mg

reducing by 1 mg every 2/52 to 5 mg

Page 57: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected gout • three options: NSAIDs, colchicine, prednisone • colchicine regimen: 1 g stat and 0.5 mg 1 hour later

Page 58: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Early Interventions

Suspected ankylosing spondylitis / axial spondyloarthritis • Full dose long acting NSAID nocte to bd • refer for confirmation of diagnosis and monitoring • corticosteroids seldom used

Suspected OA • can mimic inflammatory arthritis • NSAIDs now favoured over paracetamol

Page 59: First Presentation of Joint Pain - Acurity · First Presentation of Joint Pain ... • ReA • CTD • viral ... • Swelling soft tissue hard tissue Small joint / distal

Summary

• early intervention can reduce the long-term impact of inflammatory arthritis

• different patterns of involvement require different investigations • urgency for intervention determined by clinical and laboratory

features • treatment can be started before diagnosis is confirmed.