Renal and musculoskeletal alterations | Nursing homework help
The pathophysiology of these two diseases differs in that OA affects only certain parts of the joint, such as the cartilage, while RA affects multiple areas including synovial membrane, tendons, ligaments and even bone tissue. Additionally, OA results in gradual deterioration of joints over time while RA can cause inflammation leading to pain and swelling within a matter of days or weeks. Furthermore, OA does not cause systemic symptoms such as fatigue or fever whereas RA may be associated with extra-articular manifestations such as rash, eye irritation or mouth sores.