What should I do about knee joint effusion in rheumatoid arthritis?
Disease description:
I've had rheumatoid arthritis for a while 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 based on synovitis as its fundamental pathological feature. Synovitis 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. The knee contains about half of the body's synovial tissue. 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 treatment may involve intra-articular injection of glucocorticoids or administration of biologic agents. Although some patients are not strongly recommended for arthroscopic synovectomy, because joints are sterile sites, invasive diagnostic procedures and invasive treatments are generally avoided.
