Gout Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis: Differences Worth Knowing

Gout and Rheumatoid arthritis or RA can be very painful disorders. There are some differences between these two conditions.

Gout is a form of acute arthritis, mostly, that has a known cause, namely the buildup of crystalline uric acid deposits in the joints and the blood. These crystals cause an inflammatory response, mostly in a big toe.

However, Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA is an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation. Though primarily this disorder affects the joints, inflammatory responses may also occur in the heart, skin, lung and other organs of the body,

Gout usually occurs in men over 35 years of age and in females after their menopause. Usually gout has sudden onset.

However, Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in 35-45 years old people. The occurrence is usually rapid, within one year.

In case of Gout, the patients suffer from chills and a mild fever along with a general feeling of malaise. There is generally extreme pain and severe inflammation.

In case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, there is a dull pain and inflammation. The patient meet with frequent fatigue, especially during the afternoon hours, there is stiffness, muscle atrophy, ulnar deviation, swelling of the knuckles, complications like joint pain, osteoporosis, depression along with other complications.

Gout may have associated symptoms like Tophi, which are large masses of uric acid crystals and may get collected in the joints and damage it. These Tophi also get collected in the bone and cartilage, like in the ears.

Some of the associated symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis include frequent feeling of “Being sick from inside”, fevers, loss of weight, carpal tunnel, extra-articular manifestations like nodules, pulmonary, cardiac, skin, eye etc.

In case of gout, it usually affects the joints in the big toe. Some other parts that could get affected by gout include heel, ankle, knee, wrist, fingers, elbow etc.

In case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammation usually occurs in the knuckles and at the joints nearest to your hands, near the base of your fingers etc.

In case of gout, the joint of the big toe is affected most commonly. Other affected joints include the heel, ankle, knee, wrist, fingers and elbows.

In case of Rheumatoid arthritis, there is a symmetrical pattern of joints that are affected. Here, small and large joints on both sides of the body like in both hands, both wrists or elbows, balls of both your feet may be affected.

Gout is more common in men than women though women may get gout after their menopause.

However, Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than in men.

Gout is caused by Hyperuricemia or overabundance of crystalline monosodium urate deposits in the joint fluid and in the blood.

Rheumatoid arthritis has no real known cause. However there are some connections between the environmental and genetic factors causing rheumatoid arthritis.

Treating Gout includes resting the joint and applying ice, NSAIDS, Corticosteroids, painkiller like Colchicine, medications that target uric acid production or excretion, healthy diet that is low in purines.

Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis include NSAIDs, Steroids, Corticosteroids, Antimalarial like Plaquenil etc.

Also Read:

• Osteoarthritis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Pseudogout Vs Gout