Autoimmune Arthritis Common Symptoms And Risk Factors
Autoimmune Arthritis Common Symptoms And Risk Factors
reviewed by Stella Bard, MD — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on August 1, 2
Content
Types
Symptoms
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Autoimmune arthritis refers to arthritis types in which a person’s immune system attacks their body. The most common type is rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
When the immune system attacks the body, the result is inflammation in a joint. This can cause pain, stiffness, and mobility problems.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and different types cause different symptoms. RA and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are among the most common types of autoimmune arthritis.
This article takes a closer look at autoimmune arthritis, identifying the common symptoms and outlining some of the treatments currently available to combat arthritis-related joint inflammation.
Types of autoimmune arthritis
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Although this list is by no means comprehensive, it represents some of the most common forms of autoimmune arthritis:
• RA: The most common type of autoimmune arthritis, RA usually causes swelling and pain in the hands, feet, and wrists. An estimated 1.3 million people in the United States have RA, 75% of whom are female.
• Spondyloarthritis: This is the term for a group of arthritis-related conditions that affect the spine and joints. Some common types include ankylosing spondyloarthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, reactive arthritis, PsA, and enteropathic arthritis.
• Juvenile arthritis: Juvenile arthritis affects an estimated 300,000 children in the U.S. It can cause joint pain, eye inflammation, fever, and rashes. Other names for it include juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, and juvenile RA.
• Palindromic rheumatism: Palindromic rheumatism is a rare type of arthritis that causes inflammation around the joints. Palindromic arthritis often affects the areas around the fingers, wrists, and knees, causing symptoms such as pain, swelling, stiffness, and fever.
Each of these conditions can cause significant discomfort and swelling in the joints.
Symptoms of autoimmune arthritis
Some general symptoms associated with autoimmune arthritis include Trusted Source:Some general symptoms associated with autoimmune arthritis include Trusted Source:
• fever
• joint pain
• stiffness
• swelling
• weakness
The specific symptoms vary among types of autoimmune arthritis.
For example, PsA can cause Trusted Sourcecan cause Trusted Source a condition called enthesitis, which produces tender spots in the areas where ligaments and tendons connect to bones. This symptom often occurs in the back of the heel and around the elbow.
Risk factors
Experts believe that genetics can affect a person’s likelihood of developing autoimmune arthritis. However, the other risk factors for autoimmune arthritis depend on the type of arthritis.
For example, some research suggests that periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, may be associated with an increased risk Trusted Sourceincreased risk Trusted Source of RA.
Environmental factors may also be responsible. Possible factors that could contribute to autoimmune arthritis include:
• early life exposures to toxins, such as those in cigarette smoke
• smoking
• obesity
A person’s sex may sometimes affect their risk level, depending on the arthritis type. For example, females are two to three times more likely Trusted Source to get RA than males.For example, females are two to three times more likely Trusted Source to get RA than males.
Diagnosis
Specialist doctors called rheumatologists treat autoimmune arthritis.
Rheumatologists study the immune system and are aware of all the available treatments. If a doctor suspects that a person has a type of autoimmune arthritis, they will usually refer them to a rheumatologist.
A doctor will first ask a person about their symptoms, including what makes their symptoms worse and what, if anything, makes them better. They may ask about other medical conditions a person has, as well as what medications they are taking.
A doctor will likely recommend a range of tests to learn more about a person’s health and find out which joints are affected.
Examples of diagnostic tests for autoimmune arthritis include Trusted Source:Examples of diagnostic tests for autoimmune arthritis include Trusted Source:
• imaging scans, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and musculoskeletal ultrasounds to identify areas of joint damage
• blood tests, including red blood cell count, rheumatoid factor, antibodies to certain peptide types, and markers of inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
• tissue samples, which doctors can use to confirm underlying conditions, such as psoriasis
However, no single test can definitively diagnose an autoimmune arthritis type. Often, diagnosis involves a person undergoing a range of tests to rule out other conditions and other types of arthritis.
Treatment
Doctors will consider a person’s symptoms, the type of arthritis they have, and their overall health when recommending a treatment plan for autoimmune arthritis.
Medications
Some people with mild forms of autoimmune arthritis can benefit from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).
For other types of arthritis, a doctor may prescribe Trusted Sourcemay prescribe Trusted Source medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Examples of DMARDs include:
• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
• leflunomide (Arava)
• hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
• Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, including baricitinib (Olumiant), tofacitinib (Xeljanz), and upadacitinib (Rinvoq)
If DMARDs are not effective in treating autoimmune arthritis, a doctor may prescribe biologic response modifiers or “biologic agents.” These medications block immune system communications that can lead to the symptoms of autoimmune arthritis.
Examples of biologic agents include Trusted Source:
• abatacept (Orencia)
• tocilizumab (Actemra)
• rituximab (Rituxan)
• tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, including etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), and golimumab (Simponi)
• interleukin-17 inhibitors, including secukinumab (Cosentyx)
• interleukin-23 inhibitors, including ustekinumab (Stelara), guselkumab (Tremfya), tildrakizumab (Ilumya), and risankizumab (Skyrizi)
Sometimes, a person may take these medications in combination with DMARDs, especially methotrexate.
Medications can have side effects that cause complications on their own. DMARDs and biologics, for instance, are immunosuppressants that can leave people susceptible to infections.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to medical treatments for autoimmune arthritis, a doctor will likely recommend lifestyle changes and choices that can benefit a person with an autoimmune disorder.
Examples of lifestyle approaches to managing autoimmune forms of arthritis includeTrusted Source:
• Getting regular exercise: Some types of physical activity can improve the range of motion in the joints. Walking, water aerobics, and other low impact aerobic exercises are especially beneficial.
• Quitting smoking, if applicable: Smoking can worsen the symptoms of many types of autoimmune arthritis.
• Eating a well-balanced diet: A nutritious diet can help people maintain a moderate weight, putting less pressure on painful joints.
• Aiming for a regular sleep schedule: Sleep disruptions may worsen flares and other symptoms.
A person with autoimmune arthritis should also talk with a doctor about other steps they can take to improve their overall health.
Complications
The long-term effects of autoimmune arthritis can depend on the type of disease.
For example, RA can cause joint deformities that make it difficult for a person to use their hands and feet. People with RA are also at increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Anyone with any type of autoimmune arthritis who experiences frequent bouts of pain and swelling may also have difficulty keeping to a regular schedule of work and socializing.
Sometimes, people with RA may experience such severe joint complications that they require surgery. Various surgical options are available, including joint repair or replacement.
Identifying and treating autoimmune arthritis as quickly as possible helps minimize any complications.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder where a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing them to become inflamed. What are the early signs of this condition?
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) typically affect the hands, wrists, and feet. Spotting signs of RA early could lead to an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Early and consistent management of arthritis can prevent joint damage and, ultimately, disability.
This article explores the early signs and symptoms of RA, its risk factors, and when to see a doctor. Stella and Rachel (2022)
Early signs
The main symptoms of RA are joint pain and stiffness. Before these symptoms occur, a person may experience some early warning signs.
Some of these early warning signs relate to how a person feels overall, while others are specific to the joints. The symptoms that affect a person’s joints are more likely to indicate RA, particularly if more than one joint or both sides of the body are affected.
Spotting these warning signs can help people seek treatment at the earliest possible opportunity. The early warning signs of RA include:
1. Fatigue
Before experiencing any other symptoms, a person with RA may feel extremely tired and lack energy. They may also feel depressed.
Feelings of fatigue may affect:
• everyday activities
• relationships
• sex drive
• productivity at work
Feeling fatigued may be due to the body’s reaction to inflammation in the joints.
2. Slight fever
Inflammation associated with RA may cause people to feel unwell and feverish. They may have a slightly raised temperature, which is an early sign that sometimes accompanies fatigue. It may precede any noticeable effects on the joints.
3. Weight loss
A third early warning sign of RA is unexplained weight loss, which is possibly an indirect effect of inflammation.
When someone is feeling feverish and fatigued, they may lose their appetite, which can cause them to lose weight.
4. Stiffness
Another early sign of RA is joint stiffness. Stiffness may occur in one or two small joints, often in the fingers. It can come on slowly but may last for several days.
In addition to the stiffness that affects specific joints, a general feeling of stiffness in the body may be an early sign of RA.
This type of stiffness usually affects a person after they have been still for a long time. This symptom is the cause of morning stiffness, a characteristic complaint of patients with RA.
5. Joint tenderness
Joint tenderness that affects the hands and feet is a typical early sign of RA.
In the hands, the joint in the middle and at the base of the fingers may feel tender when pressed or during movement.
In the feet, the joints at the base of the toes may be tender. This soreness may cause people to walk on their heels or lift their toes up as they walk.
6. Joint pain
Joint pain in the fingers, wrists, and feet is a sign of RA. Inflammation makes the lining of the joint thicker and also causes the production of extra joint fluid.
Both of these factors put pressure on the capsule that surrounds the joint and irritate the nerve endings that it contains, causing pain.
7. Joint swelling
Joints that look swollen in the hands and feet is a typical sign of RA. Joint swelling tends to be more apparent as RA progresses, but subtle swelling may be an early sign.
8. Joint redness
Inflammation in the joints may give them a red appearance. Discoloration of the skin around the joints in the hands and feet is a sign of RA.
Redness occurs because the inflammation causes the blood vessels in the surrounding skin to widen. Wider vessels allow more blood to flow into this area, giving the skin a red appearance.
9. Joint warmth
Joint warmth is caused by inflammation and may be present before redness or swelling occurs. This can be an early sign of RA.
10. Numbness and tingling
Numbness and tingling affecting the hands and feet may be an early sign of RA. These symptoms are caused by inflammation in the joints that can cause nerve compression, resulting in loss of sensation.
11. Decrease in range of motion
In the early stages of RA, a person may notice they are having trouble bending their wrist back and forth.
As the disease progresses, damage to the joints can affect ligaments and tendons, making it hard to bend and straighten them.
12. Joints affected on both sides
It is common for people affected by RA to experience symptoms in the same joints on both sides of the body. While this symmetry is typical, it is not the case for everyone with the condition.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
RA results from a problem with the immune system. When a person’s immune system is healthy, it helps to fight infection. In people with RA, the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the lining of their joint, resulting in inflammation of the joints, making them swollen, stiff, and painful.
People who have RA will have some periods where they experience no symptoms and other times when the symptoms flare up.
Currently, there is no cure for RA, but proper treatment and moderate exercise may help reduce flares. If RA is left untreated, the joints, cartilage, and bones in affected areas can become damaged.
Complications
If left untreated, RA can damage the joints, the surrounding cartilage, and the nearby bones, leading to joint deformities.
Untreated RA can also lead to firm lumps developing on or near the joints called rheumatoid nodules. These nodules are a visual characteristic that people often associate with the condition.
In addition to joint deformities and rheumatoid nodules, RA can also lead to:
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• inflammation in other areas of the body, including the eyes, heart, and lungs
• greater risk of heart attack and stroke
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Risk factors
Doctors do not know what triggers the immune system to attack the joints in the bodies of people with RA.
However, there are some factors that researchers know to increase the risk of being affected by the condition:
• Sex: Women are at a greater risk of developing RA than men. A 2011 study Trusted Source2011 study Trusted Source found 1 in 12 women, and 1 in 20 men develop RA in their lifetimes.
• Smoking: According to a 2009 study Trusted Source, there is strong evidence that smoking both increases the risk of developing RA and makes it progress more quickly.
• Being overweight: A 2016 study Trusted Source found a link between obesity and a slightly increased risk of developing RA.
There are also some factors that researchers have found to decrease the risk of RA. These include:
• Moderate alcohol consumption: A 2012 study Trusted Source found that moderate alcohol consumption was linked to a reduced risk of RA.
• Breast-feeding: According to this 2014 study, women who breast-feed have a reduced risk of developing RA.
When to see a doctor
A person experiencing the early signs and symptoms of RA should go to see a doctor. A doctor can help to diagnose the condition and recommend appropriate treatment.
Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduce the likelihood of experiencing complications from the condition. Brenda and Lana ( 2020 ).
Reference
1. Stella, MD and Rachel. N, (2022). Medical review on autoimmune arthritis. Medical news today
2. Brenda, B and Lana. B ( 2020 ). Twelve signs of rheumatoid arthritis. Medical news today
