MOBILITY KNOWLEDGE (EXAM 2)
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | 100% CORRECT.
What are diffuse connective tissue diseases? - ANS chronic, systemic autoimmune disorders
characterized by diffuse inflammation and connective tissue degeneration with exacerbations
and remissions
what is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? - ANS a chronic systemic autoimmune disease causing
inflammatory joint destruction
what population is most affected by RA? - ANS women (3:1), onset typically 30-60 years
what are major modifiable risk factors for RA? - ANS smoking and obesity
patho of RA - ANS autoimmune synovial inflmmation; pannus formation; cartilage
destruction; bone erosion; deformity
what is pannus? - ANS inflamed proliferative synovial tissue that destroys cartilage and bone
what are classic early RA symptoms? - ANS symmetric joint pain and morning stiffness lasting
> 1 hr
which joints are affected first in RA? - ANS small joints of hands, wrists, and feet
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 19
,what deformities are common in RA? - ANS ulnar deviation and swan-neck deformity
ulnar deviation - ANS Movement of the wrist towards the ulna or medial side
swan-neck deformity - ANS hyperextension of PIP joint and flexion of DIP joint
what are common manifestations of RA? - ANS fatigue, anemia, rheumatoid nodules,
raynauds, pericarditis, neuropathy, splenomegaly
what lab is highly specific for RA? - ANS anti-CCP antibodies (~95% specificity)
what inflammatory markers are elevated in RA? - ANS ESR and CRP
what must be screened before starting biologics? - ANS TB, hepatitis B and C
what is the first-line DMARD for RA? - ANS methotrexate
what is the purpose of DMARD therapy? - ANS prevent inflammation and joint damage
progression
what is the role of NSAIDs in RA? - ANS symptom relief only; does not prevent joint damage
why are corticosteroids used early in RA? - ANS short-term "bridge therapy" until DMARDs
take effect
what is the leading cause of death in RA pts? - ANS CV disease
why does RA increase CV risk? - ANS chronic systemic inflammation and lipid abnormalities
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 19
, what type of disorder is systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE)? - ANS chronic inflammatory
autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organ systems
lupus is more common in which gender? - ANS women (4-12 times more common)
what is the primary immune dysfunction in lupus? - ANS immune system attacks components
of the cell nucleus
what role do B cells play in lupus? - ANS they overproduce autoantibodies
what protein stimulates B cells in lupus? - ANS BLys (B-lymphocyte stimulator)
what two mechanism cause tissue damage in lupus? - ANS immune complex deposition in
capillaries and direct antibody-mediated cell destruction
what are the four contributing factors to lupus development? - ANS genetic, immunologic,
hormonal, environmental
what environmental trigger commonly worsens lupus? - ANS UV light exposure
what are common general symptoms of lupus? - ANS fever, fatigue, rash, joint pain/swelling
what % of lupus pts experience joint involvement? - ANS over 90%
what is the most common cardiac manifestation of lupus? - ANS pericarditis
what is lupus nephritis? - ANS immune complex damage to the nephrons causing renal
involvement
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 19
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | 100% CORRECT.
What are diffuse connective tissue diseases? - ANS chronic, systemic autoimmune disorders
characterized by diffuse inflammation and connective tissue degeneration with exacerbations
and remissions
what is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? - ANS a chronic systemic autoimmune disease causing
inflammatory joint destruction
what population is most affected by RA? - ANS women (3:1), onset typically 30-60 years
what are major modifiable risk factors for RA? - ANS smoking and obesity
patho of RA - ANS autoimmune synovial inflmmation; pannus formation; cartilage
destruction; bone erosion; deformity
what is pannus? - ANS inflamed proliferative synovial tissue that destroys cartilage and bone
what are classic early RA symptoms? - ANS symmetric joint pain and morning stiffness lasting
> 1 hr
which joints are affected first in RA? - ANS small joints of hands, wrists, and feet
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 19
,what deformities are common in RA? - ANS ulnar deviation and swan-neck deformity
ulnar deviation - ANS Movement of the wrist towards the ulna or medial side
swan-neck deformity - ANS hyperextension of PIP joint and flexion of DIP joint
what are common manifestations of RA? - ANS fatigue, anemia, rheumatoid nodules,
raynauds, pericarditis, neuropathy, splenomegaly
what lab is highly specific for RA? - ANS anti-CCP antibodies (~95% specificity)
what inflammatory markers are elevated in RA? - ANS ESR and CRP
what must be screened before starting biologics? - ANS TB, hepatitis B and C
what is the first-line DMARD for RA? - ANS methotrexate
what is the purpose of DMARD therapy? - ANS prevent inflammation and joint damage
progression
what is the role of NSAIDs in RA? - ANS symptom relief only; does not prevent joint damage
why are corticosteroids used early in RA? - ANS short-term "bridge therapy" until DMARDs
take effect
what is the leading cause of death in RA pts? - ANS CV disease
why does RA increase CV risk? - ANS chronic systemic inflammation and lipid abnormalities
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 19
, what type of disorder is systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE)? - ANS chronic inflammatory
autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organ systems
lupus is more common in which gender? - ANS women (4-12 times more common)
what is the primary immune dysfunction in lupus? - ANS immune system attacks components
of the cell nucleus
what role do B cells play in lupus? - ANS they overproduce autoantibodies
what protein stimulates B cells in lupus? - ANS BLys (B-lymphocyte stimulator)
what two mechanism cause tissue damage in lupus? - ANS immune complex deposition in
capillaries and direct antibody-mediated cell destruction
what are the four contributing factors to lupus development? - ANS genetic, immunologic,
hormonal, environmental
what environmental trigger commonly worsens lupus? - ANS UV light exposure
what are common general symptoms of lupus? - ANS fever, fatigue, rash, joint pain/swelling
what % of lupus pts experience joint involvement? - ANS over 90%
what is the most common cardiac manifestation of lupus? - ANS pericarditis
what is lupus nephritis? - ANS immune complex damage to the nephrons causing renal
involvement
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 19
