Remember the following tables and they will help remember easily for a long time.
Here is a table that helps to remember diagnostic criteria for RA easily.
| Points | Number and site of involved joints | Serological abnormality (rheumatoid factor or anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibody) | ||
| 1 | Symptom duration at least six weeks | Elevated acute phase response ESR or CRP above the ULN | 2 to 10 large joints (from among shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles) | |
| 2 | 1 to 3 small joints (from among the metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints, second through fifth metatarsophalangeal joints, thumb interphalangeal joints, and wrists) | Low positive (above the upper limit of normal [ULN]) | ||
| 3 | 4 to 10 small joints | High positive (greater than three times the ULN) | ||
| 5 | Greater than 10 joints (including at least 1 small joint) |
In addition to those with the criteria above, which are best suited to patients with newly presenting disease, the following patients are classified as having RA:
●Patients with erosive disease typical of RA with a history compatible with prior fulfillment of the criteria above
●Patients with longstanding disease, including those whose disease is inactive (with or without treatment) who have previously fulfilled the criteria above based upon retrospectively available data.
Reference: UpToDate. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
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Which joints are involved in different conditions in hand?
| MCP joint | PIP | DIP |
| Hemochromatosis | OA | OA |
| RA | RA | Psoriatic Arthritis |
| Scleroderma | Scleroderma |
