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Arthritis
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint -- the point where two or more
bones meet. There are more than 100 different diseases that are classified
as arthritis -- all of which may cause pain, swelling, and limited
movement in joints and connective tissues in the body.
In arthritis, inflammation occurs in the damaged area of a joint. Damage
may be caused by any number of conditions, including trauma, infection,
neurogenic disturbances, degenerative joint disease, metabolic disturbances,
or for unknown reasons. Symptoms of inflammation include redness
and warmth in the area of the injury, swelling, and pain.
Arthritis is usually chronic, which means that it rarely changes,
or it progresses slowly. Specific causes for most forms of arthritis
are not yet known.
What are the parts of a joint?
- cartilage - a tissue that connects
and supports. Cartilage is made up of cells and fibers and is found
mostly in joints.
- ligaments - a white, shiny, flexible
band of fibrous tissue that binds joints together and connects various
bones and cartilage.
- synovial fluid - a clear, sticky fluid
that is released by the synovial membrane and acts as a lubricant
for joints and tendons.
- tendons - the tough cords of tissue
that connect muscles to bones.
What are the most common types of arthritis?
The three most prevalent forms are:
- osteoarthritis - the most common type
of arthritis. It is a chronic disease involving the joints, particularly
the weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, and spine. It is
characterized by:
- destruction of cartilage
- overgrowth of bone
- spur formation
- impaired function
It occurs in most people as they age, but also may occur in young
people as a result of injury or overuse.
- fibromyalgia - a chronic, widespread
pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout
the body.
- rheumatoid arthritis - an inflammatory
disease that involves the lining of the joint (synovium), and affects
about 2.1 million people in the US. The inflammation often affects
the joints of the hands and the feet and tends to occur equally
on both sides of the body.
- Other forms of arthritis or related disorders include:
- gout - a result of a defect in body
chemistry (such as uric acid in the joint fluid), this painful
condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big
toe. It can usually be controlled with medication and changes
in diet.
- systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
- a very serious disorder that inflames and damages joints and
other connective tissues throughout the body.
- scleroderma - a very serious disease
of the body's connective tissue that causes thickening and hardening
of the skin.
- ankylosing spondylitis - a disease
that affects the spine causing the bones of the spine to grow
together.
- juvenile arthritis - a general term
for all types of arthritis that occur in children.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Common symptoms include:
- pain and stiffness in the joints
- swelling in one or more joints
- continuing or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint
- difficulty using or moving a joint in a normal manner
- warmth and redness in a joint
How is arthritis diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination,
diagnosis of arthritis often includes:
- x-rays or other imaging procedures
to show the extent of damage to the joint
- blood tests and other laboratory tests,
including:
- antinuclear antibody (ANA)
test to check levels of antibodies in the blood.
- arthrocentesis (joint aspiration)
to remove a sample of the synovial fluid to determine if crystals,
bacteria, or viruses are present.
- complete blood count
to determine if white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet
levels are normal.
- creatinine to monitor
for underlying kidney disease.
- erythrocyte sedimentation
rate to detect inflammation.
- hematocrit to measure
the number of red blood cells.
- rheumatoid factor test
to determine if rheumatoid factor is present in the blood.
- urinalysis to determine
levels of protein, red blood cells, white blood cells, and casts.
- white blood cell count
to determine level of white blood cells in the blood.
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