Systemic Disease in Arthritis Explained

When you think about arthritis, you likely think "joint disease." But there are certain types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, that have "extraarticular manifestations" -- meaning, the disease affects areas of the body outside of the joints. When this occurs, especially in multiple organ systems in the body, that form of arthritis is referred to as a systemic disease.

There are over 100 types of arthritis. Learning about the individual types of arthritis can help you determine whether systemic disease is likely, and what you can expect. What are some examples of extraarticular involvement? Why do some arthritis patients develop systemic disease, while others are limited to joint disease? Learn more in Systemic Disease in Arthritis Explained.