Family Medicine Board Review
Rheumatology Exam UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
New Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis - CORRECT ANSWER every patient with >=6
points is unequivocally classified as an RA patient, provided: pt has synovitis in >= one joint
and given that there is no other diagnosis better explaining the synovitis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Areas in Criteria (4) - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Joint involvement
2. Serological parameters (lab)
3. Acute phase reactants (lab)
4. Duration of arthritis
Joint involvement in RA
Which area the large joints?
Point system:
0 points:
1 point:
2 points:
3 points:
5 points - CORRECT ANSWER Large Joints = Shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and
ankles
0 pt= 1 large joint
1 pt= 2-10 large joints
2 pt= 1-3 small joints
3pt= 4-10 small joints
5p = >10 joints (with involvement of at least 1 small joint)
Serological parameters in RA
, What is ACPA?
0 points:
2 points:
3 points: - CORRECT ANSWER ACPA = anti-citrullinated protein
0 = Neg RF and neg ACPA
2= Low positive RF OR low positive ACPA
3 = High positive RF or high positive ACPA
Acute phase reactant and Duration Criteria in RA
Which are the acute phase reactants?
What is the point system for these?
What is the point system for duration of arthritis - CORRECT ANSWER ESR or CRP
1 point for elevated ESR or CRP
1 point for arthritis lasting longer than 6 weeks
What radio graphic finding is most sensitive for RA?
What deformities occur in RA over time?
What group of patients had extra-articular manifestations and what is the most common one?
- CORRECT ANSWER Rheumatoid joint erosions
Ulnar deviation of fingers, swan neck deformity, boutonnière deformity, Valgas deformity of
knees.
Seropositive patients. Rheumatoid nodules (20%)
Rheumatoid Arthritis Lab testing
Which antibody is found in what % of RA patients?
What is the best test?
What are some false positives? - CORRECT ANSWER RF IgM in 75% of RA patients
(but can be negative early on)
ACPA is + earlier; more sensitive and specific
Rheumatology Exam UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
New Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis - CORRECT ANSWER every patient with >=6
points is unequivocally classified as an RA patient, provided: pt has synovitis in >= one joint
and given that there is no other diagnosis better explaining the synovitis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Areas in Criteria (4) - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Joint involvement
2. Serological parameters (lab)
3. Acute phase reactants (lab)
4. Duration of arthritis
Joint involvement in RA
Which area the large joints?
Point system:
0 points:
1 point:
2 points:
3 points:
5 points - CORRECT ANSWER Large Joints = Shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and
ankles
0 pt= 1 large joint
1 pt= 2-10 large joints
2 pt= 1-3 small joints
3pt= 4-10 small joints
5p = >10 joints (with involvement of at least 1 small joint)
Serological parameters in RA
, What is ACPA?
0 points:
2 points:
3 points: - CORRECT ANSWER ACPA = anti-citrullinated protein
0 = Neg RF and neg ACPA
2= Low positive RF OR low positive ACPA
3 = High positive RF or high positive ACPA
Acute phase reactant and Duration Criteria in RA
Which are the acute phase reactants?
What is the point system for these?
What is the point system for duration of arthritis - CORRECT ANSWER ESR or CRP
1 point for elevated ESR or CRP
1 point for arthritis lasting longer than 6 weeks
What radio graphic finding is most sensitive for RA?
What deformities occur in RA over time?
What group of patients had extra-articular manifestations and what is the most common one?
- CORRECT ANSWER Rheumatoid joint erosions
Ulnar deviation of fingers, swan neck deformity, boutonnière deformity, Valgas deformity of
knees.
Seropositive patients. Rheumatoid nodules (20%)
Rheumatoid Arthritis Lab testing
Which antibody is found in what % of RA patients?
What is the best test?
What are some false positives? - CORRECT ANSWER RF IgM in 75% of RA patients
(but can be negative early on)
ACPA is + earlier; more sensitive and specific
