Читать книгу Arthritis For Dummies - Barry Fox - Страница 23

True arthritis isn’t a medical term; it’s just a convenient way of referring to the group of ailments in which arthritis is the primary disease process and is a major part of the syndrome. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the best-known members of this group, which can cause problems ranging from mild joint pain to a permanently bowed spine.

The following include conditions in which arthritis is the major part of the syndrome and the primary disease process:

 Ankylosing spondylitis (AS): A chronic inflammation of the spine, this disease can cause the vertebrae to grow together, making the spine rigid. Although the cause is unknown, heredity seems to be a factor.

 Gout: This “regal” form of arthritis is caused by the build-up of a substance called uric acid, which forms sharp crystals that are deposited in the joint. These needlelike crystals cause inflammation leading to severe pain and are most commonly found in the knees, the wrists, and the “bunion” joint of the big toe. Genetic factors, conditions such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, and obesity, a diet high in animal purines, alcohol consumption, and certain drugs may cause gout.

 Infectious arthritis: Bacteria, viruses, or fungi that enter the body can affect the joints, causing fever, inflammation, and loss of joint function.

 Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): Formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, this is a catchall term for the different kinds of arthritis that strike children under the age of 16. Pain or swelling in the shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, or toes; chills; a reappearing fever; and sometimes a body rash are typical symptoms of various kinds of JIA. The cause is unknown.

 Osteoarthritis (OA): In this, the most common type of arthritis, the cartilage breaks down, exposing bone ends and allowing them to rub together. The result can be pain, stiffness, loss of movement, and sometimes swelling. Osteoarthritis is most often found in the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, ankles, and spine, but it can also affect the fingers. It may be the result of trauma, metabolic conditions, obesity, heredity, or other factors.

 Pseudogout: Like gout, pseudogout is caused by the deposition of crystals into the joint, but instead of uric acid crystals, they’re made from calcium pyrophosphate. Pain, swelling, and sometimes the destruction of cartilage can result.Note: This deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals is not related to the dietary intake of calcium.

 Psoriatic arthritis: This form of arthritis occurs in people who have the autoimmune skin condition called psoriasis, which causes scaly, red, rough patches on the neck, elbows, and knees, as well as nail changes. Psoriatic arthritis can affect joints anywhere in the body, including the spine, the fingers, and the toes, which can swell up like little sausages.

 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disease, RA causes the body to mistakenly attack its own joints, causing inflammation and swelling of the tissues surrounding the joint, resulting in joint pain and swelling. Over time, there can be a loss of cartilage, causing shrinkage of the space between the bone ends, which increases pain and decreases mobility; irreversible joint deformity can even occur. RA often affects the same joint on both sides of the body (for example, both wrists) and is two to three times more likely to strike women compared to men. (For more on this, see the sidebar “Why are Women More Likely to Get Arthritis,” near the end of the chapter.)