Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Lupus: Differences and Similarities

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus are both autoimmune diseases. RA is mainly limited to the joints, while lupus affects more than just the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) andlupusare two varieties of autoimmune diseases. This means they are caused when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue by mistaking it for a foreign body.

Being autoimmune diseases,RAandlupusshare a few similarities, but they also differ in many aspects. WhileRAattacks the immune system on the joints,lupusinvolves many other parts of the body besides the joints.

像其他自身免疫性疾病,两者兼而有之RAandlupusare more common in women than in men.

• Women are two to three times more likely to have RA than men.
• In the case of lupus, the odds are still higher, with women being up to nine times more likely to get lupus than men.

Thesymptoms of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) are mainly limited to the joints, particularly the small joints in the toes, fingers, hands, andfeet. Although less common, RA may involve the wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and other body parts. Joint involvement in RA is symmetric, which means that if the joints in the fingers of your left hand havepain, you will experiencepainin the fingers of your right hand too. The commonsymptoms of RAare as follows:

• Warm, swollen, andpainful joints
• Morningstiffnessin the joints or stiffness after inactivity
• Joint deformity
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Dryness in eyes
• Dry mouth
• Abnormal colored urine or no urine due to kidney impairment
• Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
• Difficulty inbreathing
• Pale skin
• Chest painor pressure

The symptoms of RA do not remain the same all the time; they may exacerbate (flare-ups) and resolve (remissions) from time to time.

Lupus also shows remissions and flare-ups like RA. Thesymptoms of lupus, however, are not just restricted to the joints. Most patients with lupus experiencefatigue(exhaustion) as their first complaint.Joint painandfevermay be the reason that many patients with lupus visit their doctor.Lupus symptomsinclude the following:

• Malarrash(butterfly-shapedrashinvolving the cheeks andbridgeof the nose)
• Fever
• Joint pain in the absence of joint deformity
• Sun sensitivity
• Pale oranemiclook
• Swelling
• Dry anditchyeyes
• Dry mouth
• Fingers and joints turn pale or bluish on exposure tostressandcold
• Difficulty in breathing
• Chest pain
• Seizures
• Increased tendency for bleeding
• 精神changes
• Cough
• Nauseaandvomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Weight loss
• Nerve pain
• Weakness
• Headache
• Memory impairment
• Frequent miscarriages

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and lupus share their symptoms with other diseases and need a thorough examination by your doctor for a diagnosis.

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis

• History and physical examination:Your doctor will ask about your complaints in detail and other relevant information, such as a family history of any diseases or any medications you are on. Your doctor will examine you for anyjoint swelling, redness, warmth, and deformity. They may also check your muscle reflexes and examine whether other body parts show disease involvement.
• Blood tests:Your doctor may get your blood tested for various disease markers, such as erythrocytesedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP), andrheumatoid factor.
• Imaging tests:Your doctor may request imaging tests such as X-ray,ultrasound, andmagnetic resonance imaging(MRI).

Diagnosing lupus

The diagnosis of lupus is quite difficult because the signs and symptoms of this disease are quite varied and may involve any part of the body.

• History and physical examination:Your doctor will ask about your complaints in detail and other relevant information, such as a family history of lupus, any other chronic conditions, and any medications you are on. They will examine you physically to look for the involvement of different body parts in the disease.
• Lab tests:Your doctor may recommend lab tests for various disease markers, such as blood counts, ESR,liver, and kidney function tests,antinuclear antibody test(ANA), and urine analysis.
• Imaging:Your doctor may recommend imaging studies to determine how much your organs are affected by lupus. These includeX-rays,MRIs, andechocardiography.
• Biopsy:To determine the extent of kidney involvement, your doctor may take a small piece of the kidney tissue (biopsy) through a needle or small surgical cut and send it for lab examination. Biopsy of the skin may also be taken when lupus involves the skin.