Common Types of Arthritis

Posted: April 1, 2004

Of more than 100 different kinds of arthritis, these are the most common:

Osteoarthritis (OA)

• 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.
• The disease is responsible for more trouble walking and stair climbing than any other disease, and it is the most common indication for total joint replacement of the hip and knee.
• Before age 50 the prevalence of OA in most joints is higher in men than women. After this age, more women are affected by OA of the hand, foot and knee. The occurrence of the disease increases with age.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

• 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.
• It is 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% are men), with first attack starting between 40 and 50 years of age.

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.
• 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% 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.

Source: Federal Drug Administration (FDA)

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