Rheumatology
Case 4: A Young Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis
CASE
A 23‐year‐old recently qualified dentist has had rheumatoid arthritis for almost five years. He attends a rheumatologist twice yearly and until his recent final exams, has been very well. He was initially commenced on sulphasalazine therapy but when this did not control his arthritis, he was transferred to methotrexate therapy. He presents to his GP feeling rather unwell with a one‐week history of a sore throat, which has not cleared, and some gum bleeding. His GP notes that he has low‐grade pyrexia and tonsillar enlargement but no other physical abnormality. He carries out some blood tests, which reveal the following:
Hb 9.4 g/dL WCC 1.2 × 109/L Neutrophils 0.8 × 109/L Lymphocytes 0.4 × 109/L ESR 77 mm/h Platelets 55 × 109/L
QUESTION 1
Your score this session: 0 of 0
Which of the following are true?