What is erosive arthritis?

Erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) is a progressive disease affecting the interphalangeal joints of the hand. It is also known as an inflammatory form of osteoarthritis. Pain, swelling, redness, warmth and limited function of the hand joints are commonly found in most patients with or without Heberden and Bouchard’s nodes.

How is erosive arthritis diagnosed?

Your doctor will use your history, hand X-rays, and perhaps ultrasound or MRI to look for the distinctive erosions, lab tests (such as rheumatoid factor, which should be negative, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is often normal), and the physical exam to tell whether you are likely to have erosive OA.

Is erosive arthritis the same as rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis often begins in the hands, but usually involves other joints, such as the wrists and elbows. Erosive osteoarthritis is usually isolated in the fingers, though it sometimes affects the toes.

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and erosive arthritis?

Compared with typical hand osteoarthritis (OA), this condition is more disabling and causes more severe joint pain and stiffness. Erosive OA is characterized by severe joint inflammation and bone breakdown, leading to characteristic X-ray findings, but it can also take longer to diagnose than typical OA.

Is erosive arthritis serious?

Erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) is a rare condition involving cartilage damage and bone erosion to the hand’s finger joints. It is a more severe form of osteoarthritis (OA) and causes impaired hand function and abnormality. While there is no cure for EOA, treatments aim to relieve and control symptoms.

How quickly does erosive osteoarthritis progress?

The presence of at least 4 swollen joints at baseline in our study was significantly associated with the development of erosive OA within 2 years. Soft tissue swelling was the only clinical variable associated with erosive radiographic progression over 5.8 years in a similar study.

How fast does erosive osteoarthritis progress?

Can erosive osteoarthritis affect the spine?

Osteoarthritis of the spine can predominate on the zygapophyseal joints or on the discovertebral space. In this last localization, it can be characterized by superficial erosions or a cystic lesion into the vertebral body with densification of the vertebral end-plates and small osteophytes.