Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting millions of people worldwide. It mainly occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of the bones are worn out over time leading to pain in the joints, hands, and knees ( Singh et al., 2015 ). While this disease was usually associated with wear and tear of the tissues previously, recent research has shown different results as it is now common even in children. The pathophysiology of this disease involves the degradation of the cartilage as well as the remodeling of the bones which takes place due to the active response of chondrocytes within the cartilage as well as the inflammatory cells that surrounds the tissues ( Singh et al., 2015 ). As the enzymes get released from the cells, the collagen gets broken down leading to the destruction of the articular cartilage. This results in the development of osteophytes and bone cysts. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that involves swelling of the synovium of the joints and the destruction of the articular structures ( Smolen et al., 2016 ). The pathophysiology of the disease involves synovitis, damage to the joints and swelling which takes place as a result of the autoimmune process occurring from both the adaptive and innate immune system. An individual’s interaction with the environment and the genes leads to the loss of self-proteins. Synovitis takes place as a result of the infiltration of leukocytes in the synovium which leads to inflammation.
The difference between these two kinds of arthritis is that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder meaning that the body responds to the soft lining as a threat to the border. This leads to the accumulation of fluid in the joint which results in swelling, pain,and stiffness. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a type of arthritis that involves a degenerative joint disorder. It leads to the breakdown in the cartilage that protects the joints which cause the bones to rub against each other thus causing pain. While rheumatoid arthritis involves autoimmune process, the osteoarthritis does not undergo this process.
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Genetic factors have been found to play a key role in the determinant of the osteoarthritis. Some studies include epidemiological of the family history and twin studies. There is more than 50% likelihood for the inheritance of the disease from a family member who had the same disorder ( Evers, 2006 ). More than half of the patients suffering from osteoarthritis are as a result of heredity from the family member. Similarly, studies have found that chances of developing this disease increase with age ( Barber et al., 2015 ). The risk of OA increases as one gets older. The diagnosis of this disease involves the doctor examining the symptoms and performing a physical examination to check on the swollen joints. It can also be done using a blood test and x-ray to confirm the presence. Treatment can involve physical therapy, surgery of the joints and taking drugs to reduce the pain.
Genetic factors have been associated with the increased risks of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Research has shown that a large number of patients with RA tend to have a family history of the disease. At the same time age influences disease activity and clinical outcome. The disease tends to be more active in people who are older than it is in younger people. The activation status of the peripheral blood lymphocytes has been identified as the cause of this. Diagnosis of RA requires an examination of swelling in the joints, blood tests and the presence of symptoms for more than six weeks ( Smolen et al., 2016 ). The doctor must, however, distinguish the symptoms with other conditions having similar signs. A rheumatologist mainly provides advice for the treatment options for RA . One may be given drugs to relieve pain and prevent damage to the joints.
References
Singh, J. A., Noorbaloochi, S., MacDonald, R., & Maxwell, L. J. (2015). Chondroitin for osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , (1).
Smolen, J. S., Breedveld, F. C., Burmester, G. R., Bykerk, V., Dougados, M., Emery, P., ... & Scholte-Voshaar, M. (2016). Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: 2014 update of the recommendations of an international task force. Annals of the rheumatic diseases , 75 (1), 3-15.
Barber, C. E., Patel, J. N., Woodhouse, L., Smith, C., Weiss, S., Homik, J., ... & Wasylak, T. (2015). Development of key performance indicators to evaluate centralized intake for patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis research & therapy , 17 (1), 322.
Evers, D. B. (2006). Alterations of digestive function in children. Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby , 1461 .
