Draft:Erosive or inflammatory osteoarthritis

Erosive or inflammatory osteoarthritis is a progressive inflammatory subset of osteoarthritis. The condition affects 3% of the general population with more women than men with the disease. In 2/3 of erosive osteoarthritis cases, there is a genetic or family history of the condition.

Erosive osteoarthritis causes ‘gull-wing’ erosions to the cartilage in the joints of the fingers and results in permanent changes to the fingers appearance (thickening and bending) and their function (loss of fine motor skills).

Symptoms include sudden onset with redness, swelling and warmth leading to the rapid formation of osteoarthritis erosions. Most patients are 40- to 50-year old adults when first diagnosed. The condition is not reversible. Erosive Inflammatory Osteoarthritis should not be confused with Rheumatoid Arthritis and most RA treatments are not effective for Erosive Osteoarthritis or EA. Standard care for the condition are NSAIDs to reduce inflammation.

Diet: Any effort to reduce inflammation in the body can help ease symptoms although they will not change the condition. Eating a balanced diets, maintaining a healthy weight and gentle exercise are recommended.

Alternative dietary approaches include low-salt, low-sugar and low-carbohydrate diets along with the addition of cherries and cherry juice (already studied for gout but not EA). Some patients have found reduced inflammation on Paleo and other low-carbohydrate diets.

Treatment: Although the condition has been noted for many years (research links below), treatment options are limited. The long-term use of NSAIDs are the standard approach to reduce inflammation.

Research: Research is beginning and advocacy for the condition is being led by the Richmond, Virginia-based Erosive Osteoarthritis Foundation (Nadja Gutowski, Executive Director). See the website link below.

Fundraising: The Erosive Osteoarthritis Foundation (We Work to Keep Hands Working) is raising funds to promote advocacy and research into better treatment options and an eventual cure for the condition.

Related site:

www.erosiveosteoarthritis.org

Facebook sites: Erosive Osteoarthritis Support Group Erosive Osteoarthritis Inflammatory Osteoarthritis Support Group Inflammatory Osteoarthritis

Links:

https://www.archivesofrheumatology.org/full-text/389 https://radiopaedia.org/articles/erosive-osteoarthritis?lang=us https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4623374/ https://www.patientslikeme.com/conditions/erosive-osteoarthritis