Deck 29: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Question 1

Being rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive correlates with the absence of nodules.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by

A)joint pain and tenderness.
B)the presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood.
C)association with HLA-DR genes.
D)All of the above.

Answer 2

All of the above.

Question 3

In RA, stimulated macrophages and fibroblasts release cytokines. One that is particularly important is

A)TNF- $\alpha$ .
B)complement.
C)IL-30.
D)IL-15.

Answer 3

TNF- $\alpha$ .

Question 4

Immunologic features of rheumatoid arthritis include anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP).

Question 5

The female-to-male ratio in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is

A)0.5:1.
B)1:1.
C)2.5:1.
D)2:3.

Question 6

The laboratory serum agglutination assay for rheumatoid factor (RF)

A)detects IgG rheumatoid factors.
B)detects IgM rheumatoid factors.
C)does not generate many false-positive results.
D)is sensitive to changes in RF titer.

Question 7

The immunoglobulin classes most often associated with rheumatoid factors (RFs) are

A)IgM and IgG.
B)IgG and IgA.
C)IgM and IgA.
D)IgA and IgD.

Question 8

Traditional treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes the ______________ class of drugs.

A)nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
B)corticosteroid
C)disease-modifying antirheumatic
D)All of the above.

Question 9

Immunologic features of rheumatoid arthritis include antinuclear antibodies (ANAs).

Question 10

A biologic false-positive rheumatoid factor (RF) assay can be manifested by patients with

A)systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
B)hepatitis.
C)syphilis.
D)All of the above.

Question 11

Prognostic markers that may help identify patients with more severe RA who are still in the early stages of the disease include the presence of certain HLA class I alleles.

Question 12

The RA agglutination test is based on the reaction between patient antibodies in the serum, known as the rheumatoid factor, and an antigen derived from

A)human gamma globulin (IgM).
B)rabbit gamma globulin (IgM).
C)human gamma globulin (IgG).
D)rabbit gamma globulin (IgG).

Question 13

Being rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive correlates with other organ system involvement (e.g., vasculitis, Felty's syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome).

Question 14

Immunologic features of rheumatoid arthritis include immune complexes.

Question 15

Being rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive correlates with the severity of the disease (in general).

Question 16

Prognostic markers that may help identify patients with more severe RA who are still in the early stages of the disease include low serum levels of acute-phase reactants of immunoglobulin M (IgM) rheumatoid factor.

Question 17

Prognostic markers that may help identify patients with more severe RA who are still in the early stages of the disease include persistently high numbers of swollen joints.

Question 18

Which of the following immunoglobulins or molecular components is used in rheumatoid factor (RF) rapid slide assays?

A)Fc portion of IgM
B)Fc portion of IgG
C)IgM
D)IgG

Question 19

Pathogenic mechanisms hypothesized for rheumatoid arthritis include

A)an infective agent or other stimulus binds to receptors on dendritic cells (DCs).
B)activated T lymphocytes proliferate and migrate into the joint.
C)complement activation.
D)Both A and B.