The difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Rheumatic arthritis is an inflammatory connective tissue disease caused by infection with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. It is primarily characterized by migratory pain in the major joints of the limbs and may also present with fever, rash, erythema annulare, subcutaneous nodules, chorea, and carditis. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the major joints such as the hands, knees, shoulders, and lumbar spine, often without migratory symptoms. This condition is a degenerative change, primarily seen in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The treatment of this disease mainly includes calcium supplementation, keeping the joints warm, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and medications that improve the condition, mainly glucosamine sulfate and diacerein.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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What should I do if rheumatoid arthritis deforms the knee joint?

Rheumatoid arthritis and knee joint deformity are serious conditions that may require joint replacement surgery. For less serious cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as etoricoxib or celecoxib, are generally used to treat and alleviate symptoms. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is associated with streptococcal infections. Clinically, joint deformities are rare, so if joint deformity occurs, it is important to investigate the possibility of rheumatoid arthritis. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an immune-mediated erosive arthritis that can lead to bone destruction and joint deformity, rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies can be tested for diagnostic differentiation.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Can people with rheumatoid arthritis donate blood?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by symmetrical polyarthritis. It belongs to auto-immune diseases and is not an infectious disease; the cause of which is currently unclear. There is also considerable individual variation in its clinical manifestations. Because it is an autoimmune disease, it cannot be cured. This relates to whether or not one can donate blood: firstly, blood donors must not have any infectious diseases. Secondly, since this disease cannot be cured and patients often need to take regular doses of medications such as methotrexate, leflunomide, and sulfasalazine, there will be a certain concentration of these drugs in the body. If the condition allows and there are no infectious diseases, blood donation may be appropriately considered.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis refers to the damage of joint cartilage due to degeneration in old age, which can cause symptoms such as joint pain, limited mobility, and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, involves the destruction of joint cartilage solely due to rheumatic diseases, particularly accompanied by abnormal proliferation of the synovium, causing pain and local heating, and resulting in limited joint mobility. Rheumatic diseases feature migrating joint pain, which worsens when exposed to cold. Additionally, diagnostic indicators such as positive rheumatoid factor will show increased levels, thus making it relatively easy to distinguish between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Can people with rheumatoid arthritis drink red bean and coix seed beverage?

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can drink red bean and coix seed beverage, which does not significantly affect the condition and is rich in proteins, potentially aiding in recovery. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, related to infections by streptococci. With the widespread use of penicillin in recent years, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis has been decreasing. Currently, it is mainly seen in patients with recurrent streptococcal infections, such as those who frequently suffer from tonsillitis, which increases their likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should maintain a light diet and can appropriately consume more high-quality protein foods, such as lean meat, milk, and eggs, while avoiding or reducing spicy and stimulating foods.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Criteria

The diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis include, first, the presence of swelling and pain in multiple joints, especially characterized and significant in the smaller joints. Second, serological tests show elevated levels of antibodies, commonly rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies. If both are elevated, it is most meaningful. Third, the duration of joint swelling and pain should be more than six weeks. Fourth, we must also check some inflammatory markers for joints, such as elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. If these markers are elevated, and the patient has swelling and pain in multiple joints, then we can consider a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.