These occur when the immune system attacks joints and causes inflammation
Many types ofarthritisare autoimmune in nature.
The most common types of autoimmune arthritis arerheumatoid arthritis(RA) andpsoriatic arthritis, but many types exist.
And since a lot of other autoimmune diseases affect the joints, autoimmune arthritis can be hard to diagnose.
Science Photo Library / Getty Images
RA can also affect other organs, including the lungs, heart, and eyes.
RA has two types: seropositive and seronegative RA.
It is generally considered a result of the aging process or overuse of a particular joint.
It’s not classified as an autoimmune arthritis.
Some people may develop psoriatic arthritis after an injury.
Genetics may also play a role.
Psoriatic arthritis can develop slowly or rapidly.
Symptoms include:
There is little connection between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis severity.
A person could have few skin lesions but many joints affected by this form of autoimmune arthritis.
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritisisn’t related to autoimmune activity.
It commonly affects men between 20 and 50 years old.
The incidence of this disease is 0.6 to 27 per 100,000 people.
Reactive arthritis can cause the following symptoms:
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitisis an autoimmune arthritis.
The major gene associated with this disease is HLA-B27.
This bang out of autoimmune arthritis occurs more often in men than women.
Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis include:
Axial Spondyloarthritis
Axial spondyloarthritisis another jot down of autoimmune spondyloarthritis.
It typically affects thesacroiliac jointsand spine.
The joints in the arms and legs are also affected in some cases.
People with this condition most often have low back pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis is actually a form of radiographic spondyloarthritis.
Symptoms of axial spondyloarthritis may include:
Juvenile Arthritis
Children can have arthritis too.
The most common pop in of juvenile arthritis isjuvenile idiopathic arthritis.Most kinds of juvenile arthritis are autoimmune diseases.
An attack can occur without any obvious triggers or warning signs.
Finger joints, the wrists, and the knees are most commonly affected.
This usually occurs in people between 20 and 50 years old.
People with anti-CCP antibodies detected in a blood test appear more likely to develop RA.
Symptoms during episodes include:
The time between episodes may last from days to months.
Other Autoimmune Causes of Joint Pain
Several other autoimmune diseases can cause joint pain.
They also have myriad other symptoms that can help distinguish them from types of arthritis and each other.
Even so, the similarities can be enough to complicate the diagnostic process.
People with lupus experience joint pain and swelling at some point, and some may develop autoimmune arthritis.
SLE often affects the joints of the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees.
SLE appears most often in women between the ages of 15 and 44.
The word scleroderma means hard skin in Greek.
This autoimmune condition usually affects the shoulders, upper back, and hips.
It can start at 50 years old, although the average age for symptoms to start is 70.
Some lifestyle changes can also help people manage their autoimmune arthritis.
Treatment is most effective when started early.
Medications
Medical treatment varies by the bang out of autoimmune arthritis a person has.
Stay positive even if you are diagnosed with one of these conditions.
There are many ways to manage your disease and relieve painful and annoying symptoms through medications and lifestyle changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most types of arthritis are autoimmune.
Common ones include:
Common ones thataren’tautoimmune include osteoarthritis and gout.
The exact cause of autoimmune arthritis is unknown.
It involves crystals that form inside the joint.
It’s classified as inflammatory but not autoimmune.
2017;37(9):1551-1557. doi: 10.1007/s00296-017-3726-1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.What is arthritis?
2015;42(5):829-834. doi:10.3899/jrheum.140474
National Psoriasis Foundation.Psoriatic arthritis.
Lowes MA, Suarez-Farinas M, Krueger JG.Immunology of psoriasis.Annu Rev Immunol.
2014;32:227-255. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120225
National Library of Medicine.Reactive arthritis.
American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing Spondylitis.
2007;66(11):1479-1484. doi:10.1136/ard.2006.068734
Spondylitis Association of America.Overview of ankylosing spondylitis.
American College of Rheumatology.Spondyloarthritis.
Poddubnyy D.Axial spondyloarthritis: is there a treatment of choice?.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.
2013;5(1):45-54. doi: 10.1177/1759720X12468658
Arthritis Foundation.Axial spondyloarthritis and body image.
Spondylitis Association of America.Symptoms of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Childhood arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Juvenile arthritis.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.Palindromic rheumatism.
2021;8:657983. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.657983
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
2016;2(3):252-269. doi:10.1007/s40674-016-0052-9
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Systemic scleroderma.
2017;8(1):268-284. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.13613
Arthritis Foundation.The ultimate arthritis diet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Self-care for arthritis: Five ways to manage your symptoms.
Arthritis National Research Foundation.What is osteoarthritis?
Singh JA.Gout: will the King of Diseases be the first rheumatic disease to be cured?.BMC Med.
2016;14(1):180. doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0732-1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
2020 Apr;72(4):557-564. doi: 10.1002/art.41141
