Arthritis describes over 100 conditions that involve inflammation and damage in the joints, the tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis are three types of arthritis. The cause will depend on the type.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other common rheumatic conditions types of arthritis include gout and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Arthritis affects
This article discusses the different types of arthritis, what causes it, and possible treatments.
Arthritis refers to
The word “arthritis” means “joint inflammation.” However, inflammation may also affect the tendons and ligaments surrounding the joint. The symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly and may impair a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Generally, arthritis can be split into the following categories:
Inflammatory arthritis
Inflammation is a normal part of the body’s healing process. It
Inflammatory arthritis is characterized by damaging inflammation that does not occur as a normal reaction to injury or infection. This type of inflammation is unhelpful and instead causes damage to the affected joints, resulting in pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Inflammatory arthritis can affect several joints, and the inflammation can damage the surface of the joints and also the underlying bone.
Examples of inflammatory arthritis include:
- RA
- reactive arthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- psoriatic arthritis
Degenerative or mechanical arthritis
Degenerative or mechanical arthritis refers to a group of conditions that mainly involve damage to the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones.
The main job of the smooth, slippery cartilage is to help the joints glide and move smoothly. This type of arthritis causes the cartilage to become thinner and rougher.
To compensate for the loss of cartilage and changes in joint function, the body begins to remodel the bone in an attempt to restore stability. This can cause undesirable bony growths to develop, called osteophytes. The joint can become misshapen. This condition is
Osteoarthritis can also result from previous damage to the joint such as a fracture or previous inflammation in the joint.
Connective tissue disease (CTD)
Connective tissues support, bind together, or separate other body tissues and organs. They include tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.
CTD involves joint pain and inflammation. The inflammation
Examples of CTD include:
- SLE, or lupus
- scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis
- dermatomyositis
- Sjogren’s
Infectious arthritis
A bacterium, virus, or fungus that enters a joint can sometimes cause inflammation.
Organisms that can infect joints include:
- salmonella and shigella, which spread through food poisoning or contamination
- chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- hepatitis C, which is a blood-to-blood infection that may be spread through shared needles or transfusions
A doctor can treat a joint infection with antibiotics or other antimicrobial medication. However, the arthritis can sometimes become chronic, and joint damage may be irreversible if the infection has persisted for some time.
Metabolic arthritis
Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in human cells and several foods.
Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it passes out of the body in urine. Some people have high uric acid levels because they either naturally produce more than they need or their body cannot clear the uric acid quickly enough.
Uric acid builds up and accumulates in some people and forms needle-like crystals in the joint, resulting in sudden spikes of extreme joint pain or a gout attack.
Gout can either come and go in episodes or become chronic if uric acid levels are not reduced.
It commonly affects a single joint or a small number of joints, such as the big toe and hands. It usually affects the extremities. One theory is that uric acid crystals form in cooler joints, away from the main warmth of the body.
Some of the more common types of arthritis are discussed below.
Childhood arthritis
This can refer to a number of types of arthritis. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), is the
Arthritis in childhood can cause permanent damage to joints, and there is no cure. However, remission is possible, during which time the disease remains inactive.
It may be due to immune system problems.
Septic arthritis
Septic arthritis is a joint inflammation that results from a bacterial or fungal infection. It commonly affects the knee and hip. It typically affects
It may develop when bacteria or other disease-causing microorganisms spread through the blood to a joint, or when the joint is directly infected with a microorganism through injury or surgery.
Bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, or Neisseria gonorrhoeae cause most cases of acute septic arthritis. Organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans cause chronic septic arthritis. This is less common than acute septic arthritis.
The following conditions increase the risk of developing septic arthritis:
- existing joint disease or damage
- artificial joint implants
- bacterial infection elsewhere in the body
- presence of bacteria in the blood
- chronic illness or disease (such as diabetes, RA, and sickle cell disease)
- intravenous (IV) or injection drug use
- medications that suppress the immune system
- recent joint injury
- recent joint arthroscopy or other surgery
- conditions such as HIV, that weaken immunity
- diabetes
- older age
Septic arthritis is a rheumatologic emergency as
The symptoms of arthritis that appear and how they appear vary widely, depending on the type.
They can develop gradually or suddenly. As arthritis is most often a chronic disease, symptoms may come and go, or persist over time.
However, anyone who experiences any of the following four key warning signs should see a doctor.
- Pain: Pain from arthritis can be constant, or it may come and go. It may affect only one part or be felt in many parts of the body.
- Swelling: In some types of arthritis, the skin over the affected joint becomes red and swollen and feels warm to the touch.
- Stiffness: Stiffness is a typical symptom. With some types, this is most likely upon waking up in the morning, after sitting at a desk, or after sitting in a car for a long time. With other types, stiffness may occur after exercise, or it may be persistent.
- Difficulty moving a joint: If moving a joint or getting up from a chair is hard or painful, this could indicate arthritis or another joint problem.
In addition to these general signs, certain types of arthritis may cause their own unique symptoms. For example, Juvenile RA can cause eye problems, including uveitis, iridocyclitis, or iritis.
Septic arthritis often causes fever and intense joint pain. It can become an emergency if it progresses to sepsis.
There is no single cause of all types of arthritis. The cause or causes vary according to the type or form of arthritis.
Possible causes may include:
- an injury, which can lead to degenerative arthritis
- an abnormal metabolism, which can cause gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD)
- a genetic inheritance, which can lead to developing osteoarthritis
- an infection such as Lyme disease, which can trigger arthritis symptoms
- an immune system dysfunction, such as the type that causes RA and lupus
Most types of arthritis are linked to a combination of factors. However, some have no obvious cause and appear to be unpredictable in their emergence.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis.
Some types, such as RA and lupus, are caused by an overactive immune system and affect multiple organs. Other types are caused by physical degeneration in specific joints.
Factors in the development of arthritis include:
- injury
- abnormal metabolism
- genetic makeup
- infections
- immune system dysfunction
A doctor can help a person determine whether they have arthritis and the best course of treatment for them. Treatments can include medications and lifestyle changes. In some cases, a person may need surgery.