RA typically spares which joints?

RA typically spares which joints?

• A. DIP joints
• B. MCP joints
• C. Wrist
• D. PIP joints

Answer: (A)

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to involve synovial joints of the hands, especially the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, and often the wrists. The distal interphalangeal joints have less synovial tissue and are less affected by the inflammatory process, so they are typically spared in RA. This sparing helps distinguish RA from osteoarthritis, which commonly affects the DIP joints. So the joints RA most often avoids are the distal interphalangeal joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to involve synovial joints of the hands, especially the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, and often the wrists. The distal interphalangeal joints have less synovial tissue and are less affected by the inflammatory process, so they are typically spared in RA. This sparing helps distinguish RA from osteoarthritis, which commonly affects the DIP joints. So the joints RA most often avoids are the distal interphalangeal joints.