Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Joint Disease

Abstract

Arthritis damages the cartilage within joints, resulting in degenerative changes, including loss of function and joint instability. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the spine and bone-to-tendon attachment area within the sacroiliac joint leading to back pain and progressive spinal stiffness. In the final stages, AS causes hyperkyphosis-a condition closely tied to the human leukocyte antigen-B27 gene. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the simultaneous inflammation of the synovium of multiple joints, leading to joint damage (e.g., destruction, deformation and disability). In the past, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) have been used for the treatment of these autoimmune diseases, but biologic DMARDs have recently been introduced with excellent results. Gout is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes an alteration of joints resulting in severe pain. Specifically, gout is associated with an accumulation of uric acid within the body resulting from dysregulated purine metabolism, causing recurrent paroxysmal inflammation in the joints. Allopurinol and febuxostat are the primary treatment options for individuals with gout. It is necessary to have an accurate understanding of the pathogenesis, pathological ecology and treatment of AS, rheumatoid arthritis, and gouty arthritis, which are the representative diseases that may cause inflammatory arthritis.

Tu-Teng-Cao Extract Alleviates Monosodium Urate-Induced Acute Gouty Arthritis in Rats by Inhibiting Uric Acid and Inflammation

“…is is the main pathological feature of gouty arthritis [12,13]. Excessive and uninterrupted inflammation can cause damage to healthy tissue, ultimately leading to cartilage degeneration and joint damage [14].…”

Is a simplified version of PsAMRIS (sPsAMRIS) a potential tool for therapy monitoring in established psoriatic arthritis?

“…Similar to RA, early diagnosis and targeted treatment of PsA is crucial [4]. Conventional synthetic (cs) DMARD therapy and -in case of non-responsiveness -early escalation e.g.…”

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Other Seronegative Arthritis

“…Later progressive bony ankylosis of bilateral sacroiliac joints is seen. These changes are detected by computerised tomography and MRI at an earlier stage than plain radiograph [12].…”