Comparison of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA)

A degenerative joint disease caused by wear-and-tear of cartilage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

An autoimmune disease causing chronic inflammation of the joints.

Cause of Osteoarthritis

Mechanical wear-and-tear of joints over time.

Cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Autoimmune reaction where the immune system attacks joint tissues.

Age of Onset for Osteoarthritis

Usually starts after the age of 50.

Age of Onset for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Commonly begins between 30-60 years of age.

Gender Predominance in Osteoarthritis

Slightly more common in women, especially after menopause.

Gender Predominance in Rheumatoid Arthritis

More common in women than men (3:1 ratio).

Joint Involvement in Osteoarthritis

Affects specific weight-bearing joints (e.g., knees, hips, spine, and hands).

Joint Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Affects smaller joints symmetrically (e.g., hands, wrists, and feet).

Symmetry in Osteoarthritis

Asymmetrical joint involvement.

Symmetry in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Symmetrical joint involvement.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Pain worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Morning stiffness lasting >1 hour, with swelling and warmth.

Joint Changes in Osteoarthritis

Bone spurs, joint space narrowing, cartilage degeneration.

Joint Changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Synovial inflammation, pannus formation, and joint deformity.

Inflammation in Osteoarthritis

Minimal or absent.

Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Significant inflammation of the synovium.

Systemic Symptoms in Osteoarthritis

None.

Systemic Symptoms in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Fatigue, fever, weight loss, and malaise.

Radiographic Findings in Osteoarthritis

Joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and subchondral sclerosis.

Radiographic Findings in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Joint erosion, periarticular osteopenia, and soft tissue swelling.

Laboratory Findings in Osteoarthritis

Normal inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP).

Laboratory Findings in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Elevated ESR, CRP, and presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-CCP antibodies.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis

Focused on pain relief (NSAIDs, physical therapy, joint replacement).

Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, and corticosteroids.

Progression of Osteoarthritis

Gradual, progressive degeneration of the joint.

Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Relapsing-remitting or chronic progression, with systemic complications.

Morning Stiffness in Osteoarthritis

Lasts less than 30 minutes.

Morning Stiffness in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lasts more than 1 hour.

Deformity in Osteoarthritis

Rare, but may include joint enlargement (e.g., Heberden's nodes).

Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Common, with deformities like ulnar deviation and swan-neck deformities.

Hairy Tongue

An abnormal coating on the top (dorsal) surface of the tongue, occurring in as much as 13% of the population.

Hairy Tongue

A is a commonly observed condition of defective desquamation of the filiform papillae that results from a variety of precipitating factors

lingua villosa

Other names for hairy tongue