Common
Types of Arthritis
Of more than 100 different kinds of arthritis,
these are the most common:
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here to learn about the most common types in pets.
Osteoarthritis
Also called degenerative arthritis. Occurs when the cushioning
cartilage in a joint breaks down. Commonly affects feet, knees,
hips, and fingers. Affects 16 million Americans, mostly 45 and
older. About half of those 65 and older have this form.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Immune system attacks the lining, or synovial membrane, of the
joints. Joint damage can become severe and deforming. Involves
the whole body, and may also cause fatigue, weight loss and anemia,
and affect the lungs, heart and eyes. Affects about 2.1 million
Americans, three times more women than men.
Gout
Causes sudden, severe attacks, usually in the big toe, but any
joint can be affected. A metabolic disorder in which uric acid
builds up in the blood and crystals form in joints and other places.
Drugs and attention to diet can control gout. Affects about 1
million Americans (70 to 80 percent men), with first attack starting
between 40 and 50 years of age. (See "Getting to Know Gout,"
FDA Consumer, March 1995.)
Ankylosing
Spondylitis
A chronic inflammatory disease of the spine that can result in
fused vertebrae and rigid spine. Often milder and harder to diagnose
in women. Most people with the disease also have a genetic marker
known as HLA-B27. Affects about 318,000 Americans, usually men
between the ages of 16 and 35.
Juvenile
Arthritis
The most common form is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis
diagnosis, treatment, and disease characteristics are different
in children and adults. Some children recover completely; others
remain affected throughout their lives. Affects about 200,000
Americans.
Psoriatic
Arthritis
Bone and other joint tissues become inflamed, and, like rheumatoid
arthritis, it can affect the whole body. Affects about 5 percent
of people with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease. Likely to affect
fingers or spine. Symptoms are mild in most people but can be
quite severe. Affects about 160,000 Americans.
Systemic
Lupus Erythematosus
Involves skin, joints, muscles, and sometimes internal organs.
Symptoms usually appear in women of childbearing age but can occur
in anyone at any age. Also called lupus or SLE, it can be mild
or life threatening. Affects at least 131,000 Americans, nine
to ten times as many women as men.
Other
forms
Arthritis can develop as a result of an infection. For example,
bacteria that cause gonorrhea or Lyme disease can cause arthritis.
Infectious arthritis can cause serious damage, but usually clears
up completely with antibiotics. Scleroderma is a systemic disease
that involves the skin, but may include problems with blood vessels,
joints, and internal organs. Fibromyalgia syndrome is a soft-tissue
rheumatism that doesn't lead to joint deformity, but affects an
estimated 5 million Americans, mostly women.
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