Arthritis is considered as one of the major health conditions affecting a significant portion of the United States population. Even though the condition currently affects approximately 50 million adults in the country, it is not primarily an adulthood health condition. There are numerous cases of children suffering from arthritis, which implies that this condition is not uncommon among children. As a result of the prevalence of arthritis among children and adults, understanding the pathophysiology and symptoms of this condition has emerged as an important component in proper diagnosis and treatment. This paper examines the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in relation to the similarities and differences between the two conditions. The analysis includes a selection of two patient factors that could impact the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term that refers to different conditions involving inflammation of the joints such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Dewing et al. (2012) states that osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common musculoskeletal conditions that affect individuals in the United States, particularly adults. While osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of arthritis, these conditions differ in terms of pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. The underlying pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis differs though their basic manifestations involve the joints.

This condition is distinguished by bony overgrowth and cartilage degeneration. In normal situations, cartilage experiences a remodeling process that is brought the movement or use of joints. However, under osteoarthritis, the remodeling process of cartilage is distorted through an amalgamation of cellular, mechanical, and biochemical processes. These processes contribute to increased cartilage degeneration and irregular reparation of cartilage. Progressive cartilage loss is the primary characteristic of osteoarthritis and is usually accompanied by development of new bones at joint margins (osteophytes), thickness of subchondral plate, and subchondral bone cysts (Dewing et al., 2012). Progression of osteoarthritis is characterized by vascular invasion and additional calcification of surrounding cartilage may take place. Huether & McCance (2013) state that bone inflammation is brought by vascular enlargement, abcess formation, leukocyte activity, and edema.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that usually affects small joints in the feet and hands (Pfizer, 2016). Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder whose initial causes are unclear though genetics and environmental factors may trigger it (McPhee & Hammer, 2010). After the initial immune response is triggered, immune system cells generate inflammatory cytokines…