Rheumatoid Arthritis DDx & Criteria

Differential Diagnosis

• Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Psoriatic
  • Enteropathic
  • Reiters
• Crystal Arthropathies
  • Gout
  • CPPD
  • HADD
• Connective Tissue Diseases
  • JRA
  • SLE
• Septic arthritis
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica
• Sarcoidosis

Diagnostic Criteria

1987 American College of Rheumatology. Need 4/7 criteria in disease of 6/52 or longer (‘MAAARRR’)

Criterion	Requirement
Morning stiffness	> 1 hour
Symmetrical arthritis	> 6/52
Arthritis affecting 3 joints or more	> 6/52
Arthritis of hand	> 6/52
Rheumatoid nodules	Present
Rheumatoid factor	Positive
Radiological changes	Present

Original publication Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Bloch DA, McShane DJ, Fries JF, Cooper NS, Healey LA, Kaplan SR, Liang MH, Luthra HS. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1988;31(3):315-24.

Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.