CASE STUDY: MUSCULOSKELETAL
Melanie has recently been experiencing increasing joint pain and stiffness in her
hands, wrists, shoulders, and knees. She was taking aspirin every 4 or 6 hours with
little relief. Her FNP ordered X-rays and blood studies to evaluate her joint
dysfunction and referred her to rheumatology. After all of the data (subjective and
objective) were evaluated, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the etiology and pathogenesis of RA, including immunologic factors.
2. Discuss the joint changes that occur in RA related to the inflammatory process.
3. What current pharmacologic therapies are used to manage RA and why (how do
they affect the pathogenesis of the disease)?