Is there a lower incidence of deep venous thrombosis after joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis?

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) were compared for the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after total hip replacement (THR). RA patients after total knee replacement (TKR) were also compared for the incidence of DVT. The relative risk of OA patients developing DVT after THR was 2.3 times that of RA patients. In RA patients after TKR, the chance of DVT was 4.8 times greater than after THR, implying that added stress in knee surgery can overcome the inherent protection RA patients may have. Although salicylates may be protective, firm conclusions regarding the effect of drugs, including corticosteroids on the development of DVT could not be made.