Osteoarthritis associated with distal interphalangeal joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

A study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the clinical and radiological findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and combined osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (OA/RA) affecting the hands. Fifty patients were selected for each group from those attending a rheumatology clinic. The study showed a good correlation between the clinical and radiological diagnosis of combined OA/RA and that marginal erosive changes in the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints occur more commonly in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have coexisting osteoarthritis.