Large vessel vasculitis
Optional resources American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Rheum2Learn: Musculoskeletal disorders Estimated time: 10ā15 min.; case #1 Rheum2Learn 2.0 is a free, case-based online program from the ACR that uses interactive patient cases to build core skills in recognizing and managing rheumatic diseases. Flexible and self-paced, itās designed for students, residents, and general internists. In this […]
Infectious arthritis
Optional resources Core EM Podcasts: Septic arthritis Estimated time: 20 min. This podcast reviews the essentials of septic arthritis, an orthopedic emergency that requires rapid recognition and treatment to prevent irreversible joint damage and systemic complications. It explains how bacteria reach the jointāmost commonly through hematogenous spreadāand how the resulting inflammatory cascade can destroy cartilage […]
Differential diagnosis of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia
Feature HUS TTP Scleroderma Renal Crisis (SRC) HELLP Malignant HTN Typical setting Child after diarrheal illness (EHEC) Adults; autoimmune or idiopathic Systemic sclerosis (esp diffuse, early disease) Pregnancy (3rd trimester/postpartum) Long-standing uncontrolled HTN Key trigger Shiga toxin ā ADAMTS13 RAAS activation from endothelial injury Placental endothelial dysfunction Severe BP elevation Platelets ā āāā ā ā […]
Immune system and rheumatology resources
Systemic sclerosis and Raynaud’s phenomenon
Case study 1: Hae Tap the arrow to view the case.Hae, a 40-year-old woman, is evaluated for a 9-month history of Raynaud phenomenon. She reports no difficulty swallowing, dyspnea on exertion, or hand stiffness. She has recently developed gastroesophageal reflux disease.On physical examination, vital signs are normal. The skin between the distal and proximal interphalangeal […]
Inflammatory myopathiesā
Case study 1: Anna MarĆa Tap the arrow to view the case.Anna MarĆa, a 49-year-old woman, presents to her primary care clinic with 5 months of progressive difficulty climbing stairs and lifting objects overhead. She reports needing frequent breaks when folding laundry and brushing her hair.She denies diplopia, ptosis, numbness, tingling, dysphagia, dyspnea, joint swelling, […]
Sjogrenās disease and mixed connective tissue diseaseā
Case study 1: Suzanne Tap the arrow to view the case.Suzanne, a 44-year-old woman with Sjƶgren’s disease, presents for routine follow-up. She takes ibuprofen for joint pain and omeprazole for heartburn. She reports no new symptoms.Vital signs are normal. Physical examination reveals tenderness at the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints bilaterallyĀ and bilateral parotid enlargement. The […]
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Case study 1: Blair Tap the arrow to view the case.Blair, a 17-year-old female, presents to the emergency department with progressive shortness of breath for 3 weeksĀ and intermittent hemoptysis for 1 day. She reports painful oral and nasal ulcers, diffuse swelling of her hands and feet, morning stiffness lasting 2 hours, and a 10-pound unintentional […]
Miscellaneous rheumatology
Case study 1: Maribell Tap the arrow to view the case.Maribell, a 72-year-old woman, is evaluated for a 3-month history of abdominal and back pain and 4-month history of an increasingly rounded face. On physical examination, vital signs are normal. BMI is 29. Bilateral lacrimal and parotid glands are enlarged. Laboratory evaluation shows aĀ hemoglobin A1cĀ Ā value […]
Small vessel vasculitis
Optional resources American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Rheum2Learn 2.0: Small Vessel Vasculitis Estimated time: 10ā15 min. (Cases 2 and 3 only) Rheum2Learn 2.0 is a free, case-based online program from the ACR that uses interactive patient cases to build core skills in recognizing and managing rheumatic diseases. Flexible and self-paced, itās designed for students, residents, […]