Question

Which disease is characterized by remissions and exacerbations?

a. osteomyelitis

b. osteoarthritis

c. rheumatoid arthritis

d. osteoporosis

Answer 1

Option C : Rheumatoid arthritis

EXPLANATION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterised by the following :

1) persistent symmetric polyarthritis (synovitis) that affects the hands and feet (even though any joint lined by a synovial membrane may be involved)

2) extra-articular involvement of organs such as the skin, heart, lungs, and eyes.

3) RA manifests when a genetically susceptible person who is genetically susceptible to the disease gets exposed to a trigger (eg, cigarette smoking, infection, or trauma) thereby initiating an autoimmune reaction.

Hence, the disease is characterised by periods of relapses and remissions.

4) Synovial cell hyperplasia and endothelial cell activation occur, leading to uncontrolled inflammation and consequent cartilage and bone destruction.

Regarding other options,

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disorder with inflammatory components arising from the biochemical breakdown of articular (hyaline) cartilage in the synovial joints. It is a progressive condition, and is not characterised by remissions and relapses.

Osteomyelitis is inflammation of the bone caused by an infective pathogen. It can be either acute or chronic, but is not characterised by remissions and relapses.

Osteoporosis is a condition where low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue leads to an increase in bone fragility, and therefore fractures. It is a progress condition.