Uniprot Description A degenerative disease of the joints characterized by degradation of the hyaline articular cartilage and remodeling of the subchondral bone with sclerosis. Clinical symptoms include pain and joint stiffness often leading to significant disability and joint replacement. In the hand, osteoarthritis can develop in the distal interphalangeal and the first carpometacarpal (base of thumb) and proximal interphalangeal joints. Patients with osteoarthritis may have one, a few, or all of these sites affected.