Difference?

[Graceusha1]

Does anyone know the difference between inflammatory arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis? I have been diagnosed with HLA B27 Gene marker inflammatory arthritis. Seems like I have a lot in common with the ra people. This site and the people here have been enormously helpful to me in coping with this.

[Kai--]

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For simple, practical purpose, no difference, Graceusha1.

"Inflammatory arthritis" is merely an umbrella ☂ term, which "Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)" falls under:

• Arthritis Research UK: arthritisresearchuk.org/art... "Inflammatory arthritis is a term used to describe a group of conditions which affect your immune system. This means that your body’s defence system starts attacking your own tissues instead of germs, viruses and other foreign substances, which can cause pain, stiffness and joint damage. They’re also known as autoimmune diseases. The three most common forms of inflammatory arthritis are: – rheumatoid arthritis – ankylosing spondylitis – psoriatic arthritis"

• NHS: nhs.uk/Conditions/Arthritis...

• Arthritis Foundation: arthritis.org/about-arthrit...

• NRAS: nras.org.uk/the-inflammator...

• Healthline: healthline.com/health/infla...

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If you’d like to begin wading ‘deep into the weeds’ 🌾🌾🌾 , Graceusha1, there’s gobs more diagnostic-type information ( healthunlocked.com/nras/pos... ). 😳 🤯

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😌 🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

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[Graceusha1 in reply to Kai--]

thanks, VERY helpful!!!!!!!!

[Kai-- in reply to Graceusha1]

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👍👍 Good to hear, Graceusha1. ☺️ [Kindly ensure you’re eyeballs 👀 don’t pop out 😳 from too much reading 👓 giphy.com/gifs/CLk0jIdkDtHN... 📖 all at once. Tiny nibbles giphy.com/gifs/LPgzFFR2Itfa... at a time. 😋 ]

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[hawker955]

Grace, firstly RA is a type of inflammatory arthritis. The exact cause is not clear, but likely a mixture of genetics and other things that cause one's immune system to become confused and attack the lining of your own joints. Other forms of inflammatory arthritis can be triggered by viruses or infections of some sort. But these are not auto-immune, these are reactions to an invader of the body. However there is also sero-negative RA that is virtually identical to sero-positive except some of the markers in the blood for RA are absent, hence "negative".

Osteoarthritis is the non-inflammatory problem affecting most people getting older when wear and tear has damaged the joints. Blood tests are not relevant to this usually. In this the cartilage lining the joints, named articular cartilage is wearing out and damaged but little inflammation is present. In RA the inflammation can be so widespread to cause fevers, sweats and general misery!.

I hope that helps?

[Graceusha1 in reply to hawker955]

Appreciate so much your response.... good info for me!!!!!!

[helixhelix in reply to hawker955]

Sorry to be a pedant, but what "forms of inflammatory arthritis triggered by viruses and infections are not auto-immune?" I can't think of one now that reactive arthritis is believed also to be auto-immune. Were you thinking of inflammatory hand osteoarthritis?

(I'm genuinely curious, not trying to be picky, as I try to learn as much as I can about these things)

[Runrig01 in reply to helixhelix]

Some experts now feel that Ankylosing Spondylitis is not auto immune, but auto inflammatory. The reason for this is that unlike RA which has antibodies in the blood, Ankylosing Spondylitis does not have any antibodies in the blood that they have be n able to find. It is still treated with the same medications as RA though. The debate goes on

[helixhelix in reply to Runrig01]

Interesting, thanks. Hopefully all these things that are being fou de out will eventually help improve treatment...

[lotsoissues in reply to Runrig01]

interesting. I went through so many tests and biopsies. I had a positive biopsy for psoriasis and my mri showed sclerosis of the sacroilliac joints. my blood labs were strange - high ESR, CRP, ANA positive, high D dimer, high troponin, have some kind of anti sacch cerevesiae antibody, and told that i have psoriatic spondylitis but no HLA gene.

[helixhelix]

Inflammatory arthritis can be considered as a bowl of fruit...and rheumatoid arthritis as an orange, psioratic arthritis is the banana, reactive arthritis is the lemon and so on.... so part of the same family.

If you are positive for HBLA 27, then most likely to have a spondyloarthropathy, like ankylosing spondylitis. But this is not absolute, so all the other fruit are still options. It can take time (years) for the specific fruit to develop and ripen and show you exactly what it is.

But whatever you have you are welcome in our fruit bowl....

[Graceusha1 in reply to helixhelix]

Happy and grateful to have found this bowl!!!!! THANKS for your support!!!!

[Graceusha1 in reply to helixhelix]

I mean bowl, lol!!!!!

[Soreknees2016]

Great analogy! 😀

[Nettac]

Good explanations here.

[Amy65]

Hlab27 is a test for anklossing spondlittis.

[helixhelix in reply to Amy65]

Not exactly. It's true that about 90% of people with ankylosing spondylitis are positive for this gene. However a lot more people have this gene, but don't have the disease and won't get the disease. So just because you are tested positive doesn't mean you absolutely have it.