Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis - Avicenna Health

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple joints in the body, mainly the hands and feet' small joints. The body's immune system attacks the joints, causing joints pain, swelling, and stiffness. See More

Some of the characteristics of Rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour

• Seven classic signs of symmetric joint pain in the hand (three different areas), wrist, elbow, knee, and ankles

• Inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding the joints

• Nodules under the skin.

Your doctor may order some lab test to evaluate your rheumatoid arthritis:

• Rheumatoid factor had a sensitivity of 80% with a specificity of 87%

• Elevated inflammatory markers such as ESR or CRP level

• Anemia

• Positive anti-CCP antibody assay (It is highly specific 96%, but not very sensitive 76%).

Osteoarthritis is usually caused by the "wear and tear" of the joint and the breakdown of the cartilage (the thick tissue that cushions the joints), leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and different joints, including the spine, fingers, hips, and knees. Age is the most critical risk factor for developing primary osteoarthritis in women and men. See More

Characteristics of osteoarthritis include:

• Short term morning stiffness (less than 30 minutes)
• Gelling, a brief stiffness of the joint after inactivity
• Crepitus (the popping sounds with joint movement)
• Tenderness along the joint line
• Reduced range of motion of the joint.

Your doctor may order lab tests to rule out inflammation related to other inflammatory arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the inflammatory markers are usually negative.

X-rays usually show a narrowing of the joint space and possibly bone spurs.