Final answer:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease due to mechanical stress, while Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder causing joint inflammation and damage. RA is characterized by remission and relapse, whereas OA has a more gradual onset.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
The key difference between osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is that OA is a degenerative joint disease caused by breakdown of joint cartilage and bone, typically due to mechanical stress and wear-and-tear, whereas RA is an autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy joint tissues. OA usually presents with joint pain and stiffness, and its symptoms are generally associated with prolonged activity but improve with rest. In contrast, RA causes joint swelling, stiffness, and pain due to autoimmune reactions, with immune cells entering joints and causing cartilage breakdown, which often affects multiple joints symmetrically and can have systemic effects. RA often comes with bouts of symptoms followed by remission, meaning it can go through stages of remission and relapse.
Diagnosing RA involves looking at symptoms of joint inflammation and pain, alongside blood tests, X-ray, and MRI imaging that help identify autoimmune markers and joint damage. On the other hand, diagnosing OA is often based on physical signs such as joint deformities, symptoms of joint pain and stiffness, and possibly X-ray to rule out other conditions including RA, since there are no specific blood tests for OA.