Key Words of Arthritis

Antibodies
Special proteins produced by the body’s immune system that recognize and help fight infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances that invade the body.

Antinuclear antibodies
Antibodies that are in the bloodstream of people who have connective tissue diseases or certain autoimmune disorders.

Arthritis
Literally means joint inflammation. It is a general term for more than 100 conditions known as rheumatic diseases. These diseases affect not only the joints but also other parts of the body, including important supporting structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as some internal organs.

Corticosteroids
Potent anti-inflammatory hormones that are made naturally in the body or synthetically (man-made) for use as drugs. They are also called glucocorticoids. The most commonly prescribed drug of this type is prednisone.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Also referred to as the “sed” rate. A blood test that signals the presence of inflammatory disease by measuring the speed at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube.

HLA-B27
Human leukocyte antigen-B27. A genetic marker often—but not always—found in the blood of patients with certain forms of arthritis, such as reactive arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Immune system
The system that protects the body from infections.

Range of motion
A measurement of the extent to which a joint can go through all of its normal movements.

Rheumatoid arthritis
A chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. The primary target of rheumatoid arthritis is the synovium, or joint lining. This tissue, which normally is smooth and shiny, becomes inflamed, painful, and swollen. The disease can also cause inflammation in the blood vessels and the outer lining of the heart and lungs.

Rheumatoid factor
A kind of antibody found in the blood of many individuals who have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor may be found in many diseases besides rheumatoid arthritis. However, some people without health problems will also test positive for rheumatoid factor.
 

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