Printer Friendly
The Free Library
4,467,324 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

Questions for CME: rheumatoid arthritis and statins.


1. The immunologic derangement characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis is:

a. Increase in Th2 cytokines, with IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 driving inflammation

b. Increase in Th1 cytokines, with IL-1, IL-6 and TNF[alpha] driving inflammation

c. Increase in CD8+ cell-mediated immunity

2. C-reactive protein

a. Is an acute phase reactant and measure of systemic inflammation in RA

b. Is associated with cardiovascular risk in the general population

c. Decreases after treatment of active RA with TNF inhibitors

d. Decreases after treatment with statin

e. All of the above

3. Treatment with methotrexate has been found to raise cardiovascular mortality in RA.

a. True

b. False

4. Statins have been proven effective in the

a. Prevention of non-hemorrhagic stroke

b. Prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with known cardiovascular disease

c. Reduction of serum total cholesterol and LDL levels

d. Prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with known cardiovascular disease

e. All of the above

5. The reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality afforded by statins is entirely explained by their beneficial effects on lipid profiles.

a. True

b. False

6. Statins' beneficial effects on endothelial function include:

a. Inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase

b. Stimulation of endothelin-1 expression

c. Upregulation of decay-accelerating factor, protecting against complement-mediated endothelial injury

7. Factors associated with endothelial dysfunction include all of the following except:

a. Hypertension

b. Cigarette smoking

c. Rheumatoid arthritis

d. Aspirin use

e. Diabetes mellitus

8. Statins may act to decrease inflammation within atherosclerotic plaques.

a. True

b. False

9. Small trials have shown that statins may offer which of the following benefits to patients with RA

a. Decreased systemic inflammation

b. Improved disease activity score

c. Decreased swollen joint counts

d. Decreased cardiovascular risk

e. Improved endothelial function

f. All of the above

10. Potential side effects of statin use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis include all of the following except

a. Hepatotoxicity

b. Osteoporosis

c. Myalgias

d. Rhabdomyolysis

Answers to CME Questions

1. B, 2. E, 3. B, 4. E, 5. B, 6. C, 7. D, 8. A, 9. F, 10. B

COPYRIGHT 2005 Southern Medical Association
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2005, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Title Annotation:CME Topic: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Publication:Southern Medical Journal
Date:May 1, 2005
Words:344
Previous Article:Statin therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.(CME Topic)
Next Article:CME credit--May 2005; CME topic: statin therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.(CME Credit Submission and Evaluation Form)



Related Articles
Boning Up.
Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis, ed 2.(book review)(Book Review)
Southern Medical Journal CME topic: arthritis.(CME Topic)
Southern Medical Journal CME topic: statin therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.(CME Topic)
Statin therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.(CME Topic)
Errata.(Correction Notice)
The patient's page.(Special Section)
CME questions: diagnostic tests for rheumatic disease: clinical utility revisited.(continuing medical education)
Can anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies be used to successfully monitor treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients?
UCB GETS POSITIVE RESULTS FROM TWO CIMIZIA PHASE III STUDIES.

Terms of use | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles