ARTHRITIS-DIFFERENTIALS

SUMMARY

1. Monoarthritis: septic arthritis, crystal arthropathy (gout, CPPD), OA, trauma (hemarthrosis)

2. Oligoarthritis (≤ 5 joints): crystal arthropathy (gout, CPPD), psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis (Yersinia, Salmonella, Campylobacter), ankylosing spondylitis, OA

3. Symmetrical polyarthritis (> 5 joints): RA, OA, viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, mumps), systemic conditions (connective tissue diseases, sarcoidosis, hematological malignancy, endocarditis, haemochromatosis, sickle-cell anemia, familial Mediterranean fever, Bechet's)

4. Asymmetrical polyarthritis (> 5 joints): reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].