How Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause Osteoarthritis? (0:25)
The activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a joint can accelerate the underlying degenerative nature of osteoarthritis that may also be present in the joint. Watch rheumatologist Natalie Azar, MD, discuss how RA can impact osteoarthritis.
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Patients can have both kinds of arthritis in one joint, that is, they may have underlying osteoarthritis and develop rheumatoid arthritis at some point in their lives. The activity of the rheumatoid arthritis in the joint because of the inflammation that you get with rheumatoid arthritis can actually accelerate the underlying degenerative osteoarthritis.
