Information on Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most common causes for disability
Signs and symptoms of the most common connective tissue diseases.
General Information on Rheumatologic Diseases
The faculty at the Division of Rheumatology and Clincial Immunology is actively involved in research on osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener's granulomatosus and gout. Information on multiple rheumatologic syndromes is available by clicking on the titles.
There Are Over 100 Different Types Of Arthritis Found In Man Incidence Disease
| 1 in 8 | Osteoporosis |
| 1 in 10 | Osteoarthritis |
| 1 in 33 | Fibromyalgia |
| 1 in 100 | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| 1 in 1,000 | Juvenile Chronic Arthritis |
| 1 in 1,000 | Ankylosing spondylitis |
| 1 in 2,000 | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) |
| 1 in 10,000 | Systemic Sclerosis |
Joint Aspiration and Injection
Some of the most
helpful methods in treating arthritis are joint aspiration and injection
of corticosteroids. Joint aspirates can be evaluated for cell counts and
crystal analysis (polarized microscopy) as well as culture. Some joints,
like the knee, wrist, and shoulder are easy to inject, others, like elbows,
ankles, and finger joints require experience. This refresher
course in joint aspirations and injections is courtesy of Loyola University,
Illinois. It includes excellent descriptions of joint injections into
elbows, fingers, etc.