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1. Defining & Diagnosing UPIA1. Defining & Diagnosing UPIA
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There are over 100 different types of arthritis, grouped by diagnostic category. Although the consensus was that it was impossible to name all possible diagnoses, it was felt that it is useful to mention some major disease categories to make sure that these are considered.
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2. Predicting the Diagnosis & Prognosis in Patients with UPIA2. Predicting the Diagnosis & Prognosis in Patients with UPIA
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UPIA may represent an early stage of a classified form of arthritis that will eventually be definable;
an overlap of more than one disease; a partial form of a defined disease; or a disease of unknown origin.
UPIA overall has a better prognosis than rheumatoid arthritis as it encompasses a spectrum of self-limited disorders.
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3. Acute Phase Reactants in Patients with UPIA3. Acute Phase Reactants in Patients with UPIA
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There is considerable overlap between diagnostic predictors and prognostic predictors, as a diagnosis infers prognostic information pertaining to that diagnosis. ESR and CRP can help predict diagnosis/prognosis in UPIA.
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4. Antibody Testing in Patients with UPIA4. Antibody Testing in Patients with UPIA
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Rheumatoid factor and ACPA are autoantibodies which are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The presence of ACPA or RF also increased the probability of developing persistent synovitis or having a worse radiographic outcome.
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5. Radiographs in Patients with UPIA5. Radiographs in Patients with UPIA
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Changes on X-ray may help diagnostically, as different forms of inflammatory arthritis yield different X-ray changes. Baseline X-rays changes which were found to be useful include: erosions and composite scores which combine erosions and joint space narrowing.
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6. MRI & Ultrasound in Patients with UPIA6. MRI & Ultrasound in Patients with UPIA
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MRI has a number of advantages in the imaging of inflammatory arthritis. It is highly sensitive and can provide a wide range of information. Bone edema was found to be an independent predictor of the future development of RA from UPIA.
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7. Genetic Testing in Patients with UPIA7. Genetic Testing in Patients with UPIA
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The HLA system is a superlocus, as it contains a large number of genes related to immune system function in humans. This group of genes resides on chromosome 6, and encode cell-surface antigen-presenting proteins and many other genes.
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8. Synovial Biopsy in Patients with UPIA8. Synovial Biopsy in Patients with UPIA
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Synovial inflammation (synovitis) and proliferation is the hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis, and distinct pathological changes can be indentified in different rheumatic diseases. The role of synovial biopsy in UPIA is poorly defined.
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9. Predictors of Persistent Inflammatory Arthritis in Patients with UPIA9. Predictors of Persistent Inflammatory Arthritis in Patients with UPIA
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With a diagnosis of UPIA, it is important to identify factors which will help predict a certain diagnosis and/or prognosis. A key question is which patients will develop a persistent inflammatory arthritis.
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10. Disease Activity Scales in Patients with UPIA10. Disease Activity Scales in Patients with UPIA
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There are many different aspects to the assessment of a patient with inflammatory arthritis.
There were several scales which had been studied in patients with UPIA.
Many of these focus on patient function and disability.
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11. Case Studies for Investigation and Follow-up in Patients with UPIA11. Case Studies for Investigation and Follow-up in Patients with UPIA
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3 interactive patient presentations: (1) Swelling of left knee and right 4th proximal
interphalangeal joint; (2) Spontaneous swelling of left knee for 15 days.
Family history of diabetes mellitus and psoriasis; (3) Arthralgias of 4 weeks,
no early morning stiffness, no decrease in function.
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12. An Animated Approach to Understanding Undifferentiated Arthritis12. An Animated Approach to Understanding Undifferentiated Arthritis
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3 interactive patient animations: (1) Role of Environment and Genetics in Development of UPIA; (2) Pathological Processes Leading to Persistence and Destructiveness of Synovitis; (3) Novel Treatments.
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