The pt. had various symptoms. Explain how these factors are associated with RA and what the difference is between RA and OA.
The pt. had various symptoms. Explain how these factors are associated with RA and what the difference is between RA and OA.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that principally involves the synovial joints, although it can also present with extraarticular features (Lin et al., 2020). The patient had several articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis, including polyarthralgia, swelling, stiffness, and boggy proximal interphalangeal joints. Rheumatoid arthritis predominantly involves the hands and feet, particularly the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints (Lin et al., 2020). Similarly, rheumatoid arthritis is three times more common in females than males and a family history significantly increases the risk.
Additionally, constitutional symptoms such as fatigue are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis because it is a systemic disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis differs significantly from osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory condition, while osteoarthritis is considered a degenerative disease due to the degradation of the articular cartilage. Consequently, osteoarthritis develops gradually as opposed to the acute development of rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis affects weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, and lower back. Finally, extraarticular manifestations are absent in patients with osteoarthritis.
Describe what MS is and how it caused the above patient’s symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis refers to an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that results in demyelination, gliosis, and neuronal loss (Dobson & Giovannoni, 2019). According to Dobson and Giovannoni (2019), multiple sclerosis stems from acquired immune dysregulation and anomalous immune activation, leading to an inflammatory process resulting in demyelination and axonal damage.
The exact etiology of this condition remains unclear, although genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. This disabling condition commonly affects young and middle-aged adults. The patient in the scenario presented with various neurological manifestations, including tremors, impaired memory, difficulty voiding, difficulty concentrating, weakness, and blurring of vision. These symptoms correlate with multifocal areas of demyelination, predominantly in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
References
Dobson, R., & Giovannoni, G. (2019). Multiple sclerosis – a review. European Journal of Neurology: The Official Journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies, 26(1), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.13819
Föger-Samwald, U., Dovjak, P., Azizi-Semrad, U., Kerschan-Schindl, K., & Pietschmann, P. (2020). Osteoporosis: Pathophysiology and therapeutic options. EXCLI Journal, 19, 1017–1037. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2020-2591
