Do you know the symptoms of ocular involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA? Rheumatoid arthritis can have effects on many aspects of your health beyond aching in the joints.
1. Which of the following classifies the ocular condition, connected to RA, of diplopia on upward and inward gaze by the patient?
2. Among the following types of ocular involvement in RA listed below, which is the most common in patients?
3. True or False. Patients afflicted with episcleritis are likely to report deterioration of their eyesight.
5. True or False. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca more closely correlates with the activity of RA than episcleritis.
Answer Key :
1. A. Brown Syndrome - The 6th edition of Rheumatology establishes Brown syndrome as “diplopia on upward and inward gaze and is thought to be the result of inflammation and thickening of the superior tendons and optic neuritis.”
For complete information, see:
Turesson C, Matteson EL. Chapter 86: Extraarticular features of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic involvement. In: Hochberg MC, Silman AJ, Smolen JS, et al. Rheumatology; vol I. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mosby. Elsevier; 2015: 712-719.
2. B. Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - The 6th edition of Rheumatology states that keratoconjunctivitis sicca is the most common ocular involvement in RA, affecting at least 10% of patients.
For complete information, see:
Turesson C, Matteson EL. Chapter 86: Extraarticular features of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic involvement. In: Hochberg MC, Silman AJ, Smolen JS, et al. Rheumatology; vol I. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mosby. Elsevier; 2015: 712-719.
3. B. False - According to the 6th edition of Rheumatology, episcleritis develops acutely and involves sudden occurrence of eye redness and pain, but only rarely does it cause changes in visual acuity.
For complete information, see:
Turesson C, Matteson EL. Chapter 86: Extraarticular features of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic involvement. In: Hochberg MC, Silman AJ, Smolen JS, et al. Rheumatology; vol I. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mosby. Elsevier; 2015: 712-719.
4. C. Ulcerative keratitis - “Corneal melt” refers to ulcerative keratitis. The 6th edition of Rheumatology notes that it can be central or peripheral in nature, where the latter type develops as an extension of scleral inflammation. Additionally, peripheral ulcerative keratitis can occur in the absence of scleritis and is sometimes bilateral.
For complete information, see:
Turesson C, Matteson EL. Chapter 86: Extraarticular features of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic involvement. In: Hochberg MC, Silman AJ, Smolen JS, et al. Rheumatology; vol I. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mosby. Elsevier; 2015: 712-719.
5. B. False - According to the 6th edition of Rheumatology, the severity of symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca does not necessarily correlate with the severity of the RA, while episcleritis typically correlates with the activity of the RA affliction.
For complete information, see:
Turesson C, Matteson EL. Chapter 86: Extraarticular features of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic involvement. In: Hochberg MC, Silman AJ, Smolen JS, et al. Rheumatology; vol I. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mosby. Elsevier; 2015: 712-719.