Inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis and many others are forms of systemic inflammatory arthritis. Some of them show clear differences between the sexes. The most common is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease not only of the joints but also of other organs in the body. The person's immune system attacks tissues and organs – most visibly the joints, where it causes deformities, or erosions. The chronic inflammation caused by arthritis leads to changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory and haematological systems, as well as in other organs. The exact cause is not known, but genetic predisposition plays an important part, as the link with the major histocompatibility complex shows. Smoking, as well as viral and bacterial infections, are known to act as triggers. Early treatment is exceptionally important, and this includes early diagnosis. Some patients have no specific markers in their blood and yet have rheumatoid or other types of arthritis. Diagnosis is then somewhat more complex and includes more specific tests.
People who are obese, who smoke or who have other diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid disorders, often also have a range of other symptoms. Taking medicines regularly, physiotherapy and changes in lifestyle are essential. Sometimes surgery is also needed. However, with early diagnosis and good control with standard disease-modifying drugs and newer biological drugs, an unfavourable course of the disease is prevented. Talk to your family doctor and to a specialist physiatrist-rheumatologist.
