Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Lupus: Similarities and Differences
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Health-GettyImages-1440715763-928ebcc9ce1a43ebb9debee28862097e.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Lupus: Similarities and Differences")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Health-GettyImages-1440715763-928ebcc9ce1a43ebb9debee28862097e.jpg)
| Symptom | Rheumatoid arthritis | Lupus |
|---|---|---|
| Joint pain, stiffness and swelling | Yes | Yes |
| Joint damage and deformation | Yes | No |
| Fatigue | Yes | Yes |
| Brain fog | Yes | Yes |
| Painful or dry | Sometimes | Yes |
| Skin rashes | Rarely | Yes, including an eruption of the faces in the shape of a butterfly |
| Mouth wounds | No | Yes |
| Pulmonary symptoms | Chest pain and shortness of breath (sometimes) | Chest pain and breathlessness |
| Kidney symptoms | No | Inflammation of the kidneys, causing high blood pressure, bloody urine and swelling |
| Brain -related symptoms | No | Headache, crises |
Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have differences in the likelihood of non-joint symptoms, severity of symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.
Lupus affects other organs
Rheumatoid arthritis mainly attacks your joints and causes general symptoms such as fatigue. In only about 8 to 40% of cases, this can affect other parts of your body, such as your eyes or your lungs.
Lupus is a disease that can affect each body’s organ system – your skin, muscles, bones, blood, nervous system, your gastrointestinal system, etc. For example, around 50% of people with lupus develop a kidney disease, called lupus nephritis, which can sometimes cause kidney failure.
Rheumatoid arthritis tends to cause worse joint symptoms
Joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis tend to be more durable and intense compared to lupus joint pain. You are more likely to undergo irreversible long -term joint lesions with rheumatoid arthritis.
The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can be simpler
In rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, the body can make abnormal antibodies against part of your own body. Blood tests for these antibodies can help diagnose.
The majority of people with rheumatoid arthritis are positive for an antibody called rheumatoid factor (RF) or another type called ACPA. Antibody tests, as well as other tests, can help doctors identify the disease.
Other blood tests, such as those of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), tend to be more useful in lupus, although they can also be tested positive in other autoimmune conditions. Lupus can be more difficult to diagnose.
Treatment and intensity may vary
Certain treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus overlap, such as the use of non-steroidal (NSAID) anti-inflammatory drugs as an advil for pain. Both also generally require long -term treatments with drugs to suppress the immune system to improve symptoms.
However, people with lupus are more likely to need more intense types of drugs that remove the immune system due to more serious diseases, such as those affecting the brain or kidneys.
Although differently, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus share many similarities.
Both are autoimmune connective tissue diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are both in a group of autoimmune diseases that affect connective tissue or tissue that supports your other organs. The other conditions of this group include Sjogren syndrome, scleroderma and polymyositis. These conditions can share certain causes, treatments and potential complications that overlap.
They tend to affect groups of similar people
Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus affect similar people. The risk factors for one or the other condition include:
- Female
- Smoking
- Have an additional body weight
Both can affect your physical, emotional and mental well-being
Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can affect your ability to perform daily activities, which can reduce your quality of life. Depression and anxiety are more frequent in people who have these conditions than in those who do not. It is important that the treatment addresses your whole person and your overall health.
It is rare but possible to have rheumatoid arthritis and lupus at the same time.
It is also possible to have symptoms and test results that make the distinction between them difficult. For example, you may have more serious joint symptoms which are more common in rheumatoid arthritis, but also oral wounds and a rash of butterfly. You may have positive RF antibodies but also antibodies more commonly found in lupus.
When this happens, it is sometimes called “rhupus”.
You might consider yourself as both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and your medical table can indicate it. You or your health care providers may also think of it as having a disease (rhupus) between the two.
If you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, make an appointment to see a primary care provider. A primary care provider can perform an initial assessment and potentially prescribe useful drugs.
They can also refer to a rheumatologist, a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are autoimmune diseases that can cause similar symptoms of joint pain and fatigue. However, people with lupus are much more likely to have symptoms and complications in other parts of their body, such as their kidneys. A rheumatologist can help diagnose and treat one or the other condition.
