What should be done for knee joint effusion in rheumatoid arthritis?
Disease description:
I've had rheumatoid arthritis for a long time and have been undergoing treatment and preventive care. However, recently the pain has become severe. After going to the hospital for an examination, the doctor said there is fluid accumulation in my knee joint and that timely treatment is necessary. I would like to know what should be done about knee joint effusion caused by rheumatoid arthritis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Aihua
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease in rheumatology. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is primarily based on synovitis, which most frequently affects small joints such as the wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints, and proximal interphalangeal joints. However, the knee is the most commonly involved large joint; since the knee contains about half of the body's synovial membrane, it is often significantly affected. Systemic treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroid anti-inflammatory agents, glucocorticoids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including biologic agents. When necessary, local intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids or biologics may be administered. Although some patients are not strongly recommended for arthroscopic synovectomy, because joints are sterile sites, invasive diagnostic procedures and invasive treatments are generally avoided.
