Osteoarthritis is differentiated from rheumatoid arthritis by age at onset, duration of morning stiffness, pattern of joint involvement, and radiographic findings. Distinguishing between the diseases can be challenging, because they have some symptoms in common. Therapy for osteoarthritis is aimed at relief of symptoms; treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis is more aggressive, aimed at controlling or modifying the disease. Both diseases may cause great pain and disability in elderly patients, so prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential.
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Marino et al. (1991) studied this question.
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