Which description best characterizes inflammatory arthritis?

• A. Pain worse in the morning; Soft tissue swelling; Warm joints; Morning stiffness >1 hour; ESR and CRP elevated; Synovial fluid WBCs >2000/mm3
• B. Pain worse at night; No swelling; Cold joints; Morning stiffness <30 minutes; No systemic signs; Synovial fluid WBCs <2000
• C. No systemic signs; Uncommon lab abnormalities; Synovial fluid WBCs <2000
• D. Pain worse in the morning; No swelling; Cold joints; Morning stiffness <30 minutes; No systemic signs; Synovial fluid WBCs <2000

Answer: (A)

Inflammatory arthritis shows joint inflammation with synovitis, so you expect morning stiffness that lasts for a long time, joint swelling, warmth, and systemic inflammatory signals. The description that has morning stiffness lasting over an hour, soft tissue swelling, warm joints, elevated ESR/CRP, and synovial fluid WBCs above 2000/mm3 best fits this pattern. These features reflect an active inflammatory process in the joint rather than degeneration or noninflammatory buildup. The other descriptions describe noninflammatory or degenerative patterns—short morning stiffness, lack of swelling or warmth, cold joints, and low synovial WBCs—which are more characteristic of conditions like osteoarthritis or noninflammatory arthritides.