| Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is | | | | cool effusions and decreased range of motion. |
| a process of progressive cartilage degradation when | | | | Tenderness on palpitation at the joint line and pain in |
| the attempts of your body to repair the issue are | | | | passive motion are also common, although not unique |
| ineffective. | | | | to arthritis. |
| Joints in the hands are most commonly affected by | | | | The radiographic findings in osteoarthritis include |
| osteoarthritis, but they are also the least likely to be | | | | osteophyte formation, joint space reduction, |
| symptomatic. The knee and hip however, which | | | | subchondral sclerosis and cysts. The presence of an |
| constitute the second and third most common | | | | osteophyte is the most specific radiographic marker |
| locations of osteoarthritis, are almost always | | | | although it is a relatively advanced diagnosis. |
| symptomatic. | | | | Biological Markers for Osteoarthritis |
| The Risk Factors | | | | Radiographs are considered the "gold standard" test |
| Age: The most consistently identified risk factor for | | | | for diagnosis, but radiographic changes are evident |
| osteoarthritis is age. They rise steeply after age of 50 | | | | only relatively late in the disease. Routine laboratory |
| in men and age 40 in women. | | | | studies, such as sedimentation rates and C-reactive |
| The Female Gender: Hand osteoarthritisis particularly | | | | protein, are not useful as markers for osteoarthritis, |
| prevalent among women. In addition, polyarticular and | | | | although a recent study suggests that elevation of |
| knee osteoarthritis are slightly more common in | | | | CRP predicts a more rapidly progressive disease. |
| women than men, while the hip problem occurs more | | | | Matrix metalloproteinases and pro-inflammatory |
| commonly in women. | | | | cytokines (like IL-1) appear to be important mediators |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | of cartilage destruction in Osteoarthritis. |
| Physical symptoms include bony enlargement, crepitus, | | | | |