Organs May Be Affected
Arthritisis a disease of the joints.
But many types of arthritis go beyond the joints and affect other parts of the body.
When that happens, it’s called “systemic disease,” especially when it impactsmultiple organ systems.
Peter Dazeley/ Getty Images
This article looks at systemic types of arthritis plus their symptoms, causes, and risk factors.
Osteoarthritisis the most common form of arthritis.
However, it’s not a systemic diseaseit only affects the joints.
Systemic Symptoms
When arthritis affects the whole body, it can cause a wide range of symptoms.
These include:
Arthritis doesn’t need to be severe so that have non-joint-related symptoms.
Sometimes, systemic symptoms can appear in people with minimal joint pain.
Natalia SERDYUK / Getty Images
Why Systemic Disease?
Researchers don’t yet know why one person with arthritis develops systemic disease while another doesn’t.
They suspect a mix of genetic and environmental factors are behind the difference.
Early diagnosis and treatment may also help you avoid systemic complications.
Risk factors for systemic involvement vary by condition.
People who have systemic symptoms tend to have a worse outlook than those with non-systemic disease.
That causes inflammation, which eventually wears away your bones and joints.
Over time, it can cause joint deformity and loss of function.
Non-systemicsymptoms of RAinclude:
Symptoms typically hit the small joints (wrists, hands, feet) first.
Common ones include:
Systemic RA symptoms may develop even if you don’t have significant joint problems.
What Is Autoimmunity?
It then creates specialized cells called antibodies that venture to destroy the targeted body part.
Who Gets Systemic Symptoms?
A few things make you more likely to develop systemic RA symptoms.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form oflupus.
It’s an autoimmune disease that’s highly inflammatory.
A healthy immune system creates a controlled amount of inflammation as part of the response to illness or injury.
In SLE, certain parts of the immune system become overactive and inflammation isn’t properly controlled.
They can strike in many different places.
SLE is systemic by definition.
Risk factors for SLE complications vary.
Not all complications have known risk factors.
Two types are associated with systemic symptoms: systemic JIA and psoriatic JIA.
Common symptoms of JIA include joint pain and stiffness and joints that are warm, red, and swollen.
Systemic symptoms of JIA can include:
Systemic JIA
In addition, systemic JIA may affect internal organs.
Symptoms depend on which organ is under attack.
For example, scarring and inflammation in the lungs can lead to shortness of breath.
Inflammation of the heart muscle may cause heart damage.
Psoriatic JIA
Psoriatic JIA affects the skin, causing a skin condition calledpsoriasis.
Psoriasis causes raised, scaly patches on the skin called plaques.
The plaques may be itchy or painful.
They’re most common on the elbows, knees, and scalp, but they can be anywhere.
Researchers are just beginning to understand why some of them develop systemic complications.
This is an area that still needs considerable research into the relationships and risk factors.
You may have severe skin symptoms but low joint pain or vice versa.
Systemic symptoms of PsA may include:
Little is known about why some people with PsA develop systemic symptoms.
Research suggests:
This is an area that needs considerably more research.
In Sjogren’s disease, the immune system attacks moisture-producing glands, especially those that make tears andsaliva.
It may also attack other organs or systems.
Common localized Sjogren’s symptoms are:
The dryness of Sjogren’s goes beyond just an annoyance.
Untreated, it may lead to vision impairment or blindness, destruction of teeth, and serious mouth infections.
Sjogren’s disease is common alongside other autoimmune diseases.
What Is Dysautonomia?
Researchers don’t yet know why some people develop systemic SS symptoms.
Some studies have started to shed light on this subject, though.
Fetal heart block is a rare pregnancy complication of SS.
Summary
Several types of arthritis can have symptoms outside of the joints.
Sometimes they’re in multiple bodily systems.
This is called systemic disease.
The causes of systemic involvement are unknown but researchers have identified some risk factors.
A Word From Verywell
The thought of living with a chronic, systemic disease can be frightening.
The most important thing for you to do is talk to your healthcare provider.
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