Lupus Logic
Low complement and elevated anti-dsDNA levels best correlate with activity in this organ system.
What is Renal (Lupus Nephritis)?
Early morning stiffness lasting over this duration is characteristic of RA.
What is greater than or equal to 60 minutes?
This type of ANCA is associated with microscopic polyangiitis.
What is p-ANCA (anti–myeloperoxidase)?
The gold standard diagnostic test for gout.
What is Monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid (polarized microscopy)?
The earliest symptom of ankylosing spondylitis is typically this.
What is Inflammatory back pain (improves with activity, night pain)?
The presence of anti-centromere antibodies predicts this vascular complication in scleroderma.
What is Pulmonary arterial hypertension?
Screening for this infection is required before starting biologic DMARDs.
What is Latent TB (tuberculosis)?
The most sensitive screening antibody for SLE.
What is ANA (anti-neutrophil antibody)?
This radiographic finding differentiates erosive RA from non-erosive inflammatory arthritis.
What is Marginal erosions (at the bare areas)?
The preferred induction regimen for severe ANCA-associated vasculitis per 2021 ACR guidelines.
What is Glucocorticoids + rituximab(or cyclophosphamide)?
Chronic tophaceous gout may show this radiologic sign.
What is “Rat bite” erosions with overhanging edges?
MRI finding most sensitive for early sacroiliitis.
What is Bone marrow edema on STIR sequences?
This antibody in myositis is associated with rapidly progressive ILD.
What is Anti–MDA5?
Cyclophosphamide carries this notable long-term malignancy risk.
What is Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder?
The antibody associated with an increased risk of neonatal heart block.
What is Anti-Ro (SSA)?
This rare complication of RA presents with neutropenia and splenomegaly.
What is Felty’s syndrome?
This large-vessel vasculitis may mimic Takayasu arteritis but occurs in older adults.
What is Giant cell arteritis?
Febuxostat should be avoided in this patient population per CARES and FAST trial findings.
What are Patients with established cardiovascular disease?
This extra-articular manifestation is more common in psoriatic arthritis than other spondyloarthropathies.
What is Dactylitis (“sausage digits”)?
In polymyositis and dermatomyositis, CK and this muscle enzyme are commonly elevated.
What is Aldolase?
Leflunomide’s active metabolite has a long half-life; accelerated elimination is achieved with this agent.
What is Cholestyramine?
The EULAR/ACR 2019 SLE classification requires this as an entry criterion before scoring weighted domains.
What is Positive ANA at ≥1:80 titer?
Interstitial lung disease in RA is most commonly of this histopathologic pattern.
What is Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)?
This medium-vessel vasculitis is associated with chronic hepatitis B infection.
What is Polyarteritis nodosa?
This drug class should be avoided during an acute gout attack as it may worsen symptoms.
What is Urate-lowering therapy initiation (if not already on stable therapy)?
The primary mechanism of axial damage in ankylosing spondylitis involves this process.
What is Enthesial new bone formation (ossification of entheses)?
Antibody associated with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and scleroderma renal crisis.
What is Anti–RNA polymerase III?
This biologic agent can cause demyelinating disease and should be avoided in MS.
What are TNF inhibitors?
The presence of this antibody suggests overlap between SLE and autoimmune myositis (the "anti-synthetase" variant).
What is Anti–U1 RNP or Anti–Ro52?
In RA patients with poor response to TNF inhibitors, switching to this class may be more effective if lymphocyte activation is implicated.
What are Co-stimulation blockers (abatacept)?
This clinical feature differentiates polyarteritis nodosa from ANCA-associated vasculitis.
What is Absence of glomerulonephritis (spares arterioles/capillaries)?
Basic calcium phosphate crystals are seen in this periarticular shoulder condition.
What is Calcific tendinitis?
IL-17 inhibitors (e.g., secukinumab) are avoided in patients with this comorbidity.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
In antisynthetase syndrome, this antibody is most strongly associated with severe interstitial lung disease and mechanic’s hands.
Anti–Jo-1 (anti–histidyl-tRNA synthetase)?
This cytokine is a shared therapeutic target for both psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
What is IL-17?