>
Ankylosing
Spondylitis
> Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome
>
Discoid
Lupus Erythematosus
> Gout
> Juvenile
Arthritis
> Osteoarthritis
> Rheumatoid
Arthritis
> Tendonitis
and Bursitis
Arthritis
According to the
Arthritis Foundation, more than 170 types of arthritis have
been identified. Several of these are essentially the same
disease with different names. For example, tendonitis has a
different name depending on the affected tendon. The
following listing describes some of the most common and
widespread forms of arthritis.
Ankylosing
Spondylitis
What is it?
AS is a rheumatic disease that causes arthritis of the spine
and sacroiliac joints, and sometimes causes inflammation of
the eyes and heart valves. AS ranges from mild to severe.
The mild form results in minor episodes of back pain. The
severe form results in spinal fusion, deformity, and severe
eye and internal organ destruction. AS is classified in a
disease category called the spondyloarthropathies. This
category also includes Reiter's syndrome, some cases of
psoriatic arthritis, and the arthritis of inflammatory bowel
disease.
What causes it?
The cause of AS is unknown; however, most of the
spondyloarthropathies have the genetic marker, HLA-B27.
AS Facts
AS affects about 130 out of every 100,000 people in the
United States. It usually strikes teenagers and young adult
males. AS affects men four to five times more often than
women.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on the symptoms, physical exams and
x-rays. The HLA-B27 genetic marker is present in about
ninety percent of the people with AS. However, approximately
8% of the normal population also carries HLA-B27, so this is
not a specific test for AS. X-rays may show erosion of
joints.
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Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
What is it?
The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that
supports the joint. The space between this band of fibrous
tissue and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel. The
median nerve runs through this tunnel to the thumb and to
the index, middle, and ring fingers. Inflammation or a
change in position of the carpal tunnel can squeeze and
irritate the median nerve. This causes pain, tingling, and
numbness of the thumb and the index, middle, and ring
fingers.
What causes it?
Any condition that exerts pressure on the median nerve can
cause CTS. These conditions include pregnancy,
hypothyroidism, arthritis, and high blood sugar. Repetitive work,
such as prolonged keyboarding, can also cause inflammation
of the tendons resulting in CTS.
CTS Facts
One of the first symptoms of CTS is numbness in the thumb
and in the index, middle, and ring fingers. The little
finger is not affected. Diagnosis The symptoms and the
physical examination are the most important factors in the
diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. A nerve conduction
study may be done to determine how fast nerve impulses are
conducted through the median nerve.
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Discoid
Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
What is it?
DLE is a chronic condition affecting the skin. DLE is
characterized by clearly defined, red patches on the skin
that are commonly found on the face, scalp, ears, and neck.
Exposure to the sun can aggravate the condition. If patches
appear on the scalp, hair loss can occur.
What causes it?
The cause is unknown, but DLE appears to be an autoimmune
disorder.
DLE Facts
DLE is more common in females, who are in their thirties.
DLE will progress into Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in
one out of twenty people.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on the symptoms. However, other
diseases that produce a similar skin condition must be ruled
out. Testing must be done to rule out SLE. For example, the
antinuclear antibody (ANA) test used for diagnosing SLE is
usually negative in DLE. Finally, skin biopsies may done to
confirm the diagnosis.
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Gout
What is it?
Known as "the disease of kings and the king of
diseases," gout has been studied and has caused human
suffering since the days of Hippocrates. Gout was the
leading cause of painful and disabling chronic arthritis,
but it has been almost conquered by modern medicine.
Unfortunately, some people with gout continue to suffer
because they are not aware of the current treatments.
What causes it?
Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. This
excess can be caused by several things, such as an
overproduction of uric acid by the body, or an
underelimination of uric acid by the kidneys. In addition,
an increased intake of foods containing purines can increase
the levels of uric acid in the body. Some meats, dried peas
and beans, and seafood are high in purines. Alcoholic
beverages can also cause an increase in uric acid levels.
Over time, increased amounts of uric acid in the blood can
cause crystals of uric acid in the joints causing painful
gout attacks, and can cause crystals to build up in the
urinary tract causing kidney stones.
Gout Facts
Gout occurs in about 275 out of 100,000 people and occurs
more often in males. Gout is associated with obesity, high
blood pressure, and high blood sugar.
Diagnosis
Because gout can be misdiagnosed as another form of
arthritis, proper diagnosis is important. The diagnosis of
gout is confirmed by finding uric acid crystals in the joint
fluid during an acute attack. However, uric acid levels in
the blood are sometimes elevated in individuals without
gout.
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Juvenile
Arthritis
What is it?
Juvenile arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation in
the joints and starts before the age of sixteen. Juvenile
arthritis has many different patterns. Although all the
patterns have joint inflammation in common, they behave very
differently. The patterns can require different treatments
and have different outcomes. Systemic types of juvenile
arthritis begin with a very high fever, a skin rash, and
show evidence of inflammation in many internal organs as
well as in the joints. About ten percent of children with
arthritis have this type. Another name for the systemic form
of juvenile arthritis is Still's disease. Pauciarticular
disease affects fewer than five joints. About half of all
children with arthritis have this type. Polyarticular
disease involves more than five joints. Some children with
polyarticular disease also have adult-type rheumatoid
arthritis, which began at an earlier age than usual. Because
children with arthritis frequently have eye problems,
regular eye exams are important.
What causes it?
The cause is unknown. Certain genes may predispose to the
disease. Although an infectious trigger has not been found,
some researchers believe an infectious trigger sets off the
disease off in predisposed children.
Juvenile Arthritis Facts
About 285,000 children in the United States have juvenile
arthritis of one form or another. An afflicted child might
have problems in school and might have reduced participation
in peer activities. In addition, the parents and other
children in the family might be impacted by the
psychological and financial stress of a chronic illness.
Diagnosis
Because many children compensate well for loss of function
and do not complain, juvenile arthritis can be hard to
diagnose. Parents might notice limping, morning stiffness, a
reluctance to use a joint, or a decrease in activity. Tests
that are usually positive with adult arthritis are commonly
negative in juvenile arthritis. Unfortunately, many other
conditions can mimic juvenile arthritis, such as,
infections, certain malignancies, common musculoskeletal
problems, or other less common rheumatic diseases. Before
confirming a diagnosis further evaluation to rule these out
might be needed.
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Osteoarthritis
(OA)
What is it?
OA, or degenerative joint disease, is the most common form
of arthritis. Known as the "wear and tear"
arthritis, OA most often affects middle-aged and older
people. Nearly seventy percent of all people over the age of
seventy show signs of the disease on X-ray exams, but only
half of these people ever have symptoms. OA can occur in
joints that have been injured or have had prolonged heavy
use. OA occurs in joints damaged by previous infection or by
an inflammatory process. People with OA suffer pain and a
loss of joint function.
What causes it?
OA results from the degeneration of the cartilage in the
joint. The causes of cartilage loss are many. Some forms of
OA might be hereditary, including the type that causes
enlargement of the knuckles in people who have a specific
genetic abnormality. This genetic abnormality causes a
change in amino acids, which causes the cartilage in the
knuckles to deteriorate prematurely.
OA Facts
OA affects more than sixteen million Americans. It is the
most common type of arthritis. Almost everyone over the age
of seventy-five has at least one affected joint. Women are
usually affected at a younger age than men.
Diagnosis
OA is suspected when pain develops in a joint. It can be
confirmed by a physical examination, X-rays, and by ruling
out other types of arthritis. OA is so common that it can be
present along with other types of arthritis.
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Rheumatoid
Arthritis (RA)
What is it?
RA is a chronic disease that causes joint pain, stiffness,
swelling, and loss of function. In addition, RA can cause
inflammation in body organs.
What causes it?
The cause of RA is unknown. However, current research
indicates that immunologic and inflammatory reactions can
lead to arthritis and joint injury. New studies show that
some people inherit a predisposition to develop RA.
RA Facts
RA affects more than two million people in the United
States. It affects more females than males. Usually RA
begins between the ages of twenty and forty-five. One out of
ten people with RA will eventually become disabled.
Diagnosis
Because of RA's gradual onset and subtle symptoms, RA can be
difficult to diagnose. Blood tests and X-rays can be normal.
The symptoms vary in degrees of severity in the joints and
organs that are affected. In addition, other types of
arthritis can resemble RA. Skill and experience are needed
to reach a diagnosis and to decide the most appropriate
treatment. The following is the diagnostic criteria
established by the American College of Rheumatology:
- Presence of arthritis for
longer than six weeks.
- Prolonged morning
stiffness in the joints.
- Presence of nodules under
the skin.
- Joint erosions appear on
X-ray film.
- Positive blood tests of an
antibody known as rheumatoid factor (twenty-five percent
of people with RA never develop this factor and this
antibody may be present in people who do not have RA).
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Tendonitis
and Bursitis
What is it?
Tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon.
Tendons are the bands of tissue that connect muscle to bone.
Bursitis is an inflammation or irritation of a bursa. A
bursa is a sac that acts as a cushion between the muscles
and bones. Its lining is a membrane that releases fluid to
help the muscles, tendons, and bones slide over each other.
Symptoms of bursitis and tendonitis are similar and include
pain and stiffness, which are aggravated by movement.
Tendonitis and bursitis are usually temporary conditions,
but they can become recurrent or chronic problems.
What causes it?
The most common cause of tendonitis and bursitis is an
injury or overuse during work or play. Sometimes an
infection within the bursa or tendon sheath is responsible
for the inflammation. Tendonitis or bursitis can be found
with other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout,
psoriatic arthritis, thyroid disease, and high blood sugar.
Tendonitis/Busitis Facts
Tendonitis and bursitis are common musculoskeletal problems
in both the young and the old. Overuse and sports injuries
are the most common causes.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of tendonitis and bursitis requires a careful
medical history, physical examination, and careful
evaluation of the symptoms. X-rays can be helpful to exclude
bony abnormalities or arthritis from the diagnosis. However,
tendons and bursae are generally not visible on X-ray film.
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Reprinted with
permission from arthritiswebsite.com. |
