Pharmacotherapy/Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) And Osteoarthritis (OA)
Arthritis is the umbrella term used to describe inflammation of joints. There are two types of arthritis. They are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). There is a third class which is juvenile idiopathic arthritis. But because there is no clear definition aside from arthritis that occurs in adolescents below the age of 17, many books don't include it. Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) In RA, the immune system suspects the soft lining around the joints as threats and attacks. It is just the way they attack foreign matters like bacteria and viruses. The immune system sends many fighting cells to the joint which accumulates. This leads to swelling. The swelling increases the pressure around the joints causing inflammation, stiffness and pain. Osteoarthritis (OA) In OA, there is loss of cartilage around the joints. This leads to a gradual degeneration of the cartilage making the bones around the joint to rub against each other. The robbing leads to i...
