MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis

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Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of cartilage and overgrowth of bone often due to "wear and tear". Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation of a joint's connective tissues, such as the synovial membranes, which leads to the destruction of the articular cartilage.

Update Date: 7/27/2007

Updated by: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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