Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Similar yet Very Different Joint Pain can have many different causes; among them are Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis. With just a quick glance, these diseases look quite similar but upon further investigation it is clear that they are very different. Both Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis affect the joints in the body but they do so in different ways. Gout causes crystals formed from excess uric acid in the blood to build up in the joints which causes severe pain. Rheumatoid Arthritis, on the other hand, affects the synovial membrane of the joint causing it to harden and become more rigid. Gout has a greater prevalence in men and RA affects more women. Gout accounts for only a small percentage of all diagnosed cases
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(2011) as “a form of acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe, but may also affect the heel, ankle, hand, wrist, or elbow. Gout is different from other forms of arthritis because it occurs when there are high levels of uric acid circulating in the blood, which can cause urate crystals to settle in the tissues of the joints” (p. 1919). The kidneys are responsible for removing uric acid from the blood but when factors such as diet and weight come into play the kidneys may not be able to sufficiently remove all the acid. Rheumatoid Arthritis has a different cause and is defined by Laberge and Cataldo (2011) as “an autoimmune disease that primarily damages the lining of joints” (p. 3787). This form of arthritis affects the joints differently than Gout because the body itself attacks the synovial membrane of the joints and while it starts in the smaller joints of the wrists and hands, it can end up affecting any joint in the body. The specific cause of RA is unknown however, according to the Mayo Clinic, it may start from a viral or bacterial infection (Mayo Clinic Staff, …show more content…
When a doctor suspects a patient is suffering from gout, s/he will “administer a test that measures the level of uric acid in the blood. While normal uric acid levels don't necessarily rule out gout and high levels don't confirm it, the most definitive way to diagnose gout is to take a sample of fluid from the joint and test it for urate crystals” (Frey, et al., 2011, p. 1920). Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis is much more difficult, a patient’s doctor will have to use several diagnostic tests ranging from an x-ray and MRI to Rheumatoid Factor Tests (RF), Antinuclear Antibody Tests (ANA), and C - reactive protein Tests (CRP). The RF test “measures the presence and amounts of rheumatoid factor in the blood. The test looks for distinctive antibodies released in the blood by people with RA to distinguish it from other forms of arthritis and other conditions that cause similar symptoms of joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness” (Laberge & Cataldo, 2011, p. 3789). ANA and CRP tests are used to screen for antibodies and markers of inflammation that will aid in diagnosis. In addition to testing, a patient must meet four of seven criteria established by The American Rheumatology Association, which are as
(2011) as “a form of acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe, but may also affect the heel, ankle, hand, wrist, or elbow. Gout is different from other forms of arthritis because it occurs when there are high levels of uric acid circulating in the blood, which can cause urate crystals to settle in the tissues of the joints” (p. 1919). The kidneys are responsible for removing uric acid from the blood but when factors such as diet and weight come into play the kidneys may not be able to sufficiently remove all the acid. Rheumatoid Arthritis has a different cause and is defined by Laberge and Cataldo (2011) as “an autoimmune disease that primarily damages the lining of joints” (p. 3787). This form of arthritis affects the joints differently than Gout because the body itself attacks the synovial membrane of the joints and while it starts in the smaller joints of the wrists and hands, it can end up affecting any joint in the body. The specific cause of RA is unknown however, according to the Mayo Clinic, it may start from a viral or bacterial infection (Mayo Clinic Staff, …show more content…
When a doctor suspects a patient is suffering from gout, s/he will “administer a test that measures the level of uric acid in the blood. While normal uric acid levels don't necessarily rule out gout and high levels don't confirm it, the most definitive way to diagnose gout is to take a sample of fluid from the joint and test it for urate crystals” (Frey, et al., 2011, p. 1920). Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis is much more difficult, a patient’s doctor will have to use several diagnostic tests ranging from an x-ray and MRI to Rheumatoid Factor Tests (RF), Antinuclear Antibody Tests (ANA), and C - reactive protein Tests (CRP). The RF test “measures the presence and amounts of rheumatoid factor in the blood. The test looks for distinctive antibodies released in the blood by people with RA to distinguish it from other forms of arthritis and other conditions that cause similar symptoms of joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness” (Laberge & Cataldo, 2011, p. 3789). ANA and CRP tests are used to screen for antibodies and markers of inflammation that will aid in diagnosis. In addition to testing, a patient must meet four of seven criteria established by The American Rheumatology Association, which are as