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<title>What is Arthritis</title>
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<td width="88%"><font color="#400080"><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="5">A</font><font
size="4" face="Bookman Old Style">RTHRITIS </font><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="5">N</font><font
size="4" face="Bookman Old Style">ATIONAL </font><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="5">R</font><font
size="4" face="Bookman Old Style">ESEARCH </font><font face="Bookman Old Style" size="5">F</font><font
size="4" face="Bookman Old Style">OUNDATION</font></font></td>
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<td><p align="left"><font size="5" color="#FF0000"><u><b>Forms of Arthritis</b></u></font></p>
<font FACE="Arial"><p>There are more than <b>100 types of arthritis</b> and treatment may
be obtained from arthritis specialists called <i>rheumatologists</i>. Some of the most
prevalent forms of <i>arthritis</i> include: <ul>
<i>
<li>Osteoarthritis </i>(occurs when the tissue that covers the joints breaks down and leaves
the ends of the bones unprotected<i>),</i> which is the nation&#146;s number one crippling
disease, affecting 17 million Americans </li>
<i>
<li>Rheumatoid Arthritis</i> (the most painful and crippling form), an autoimmune disease
that afflicts approximately 7 million Americans </li>
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<li>Spinal Arthritis</i>, which affects 2.5 million Americans </li>
<i>
<li>Gout</i>, which affects nearly 2 million Americans </li>
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<li>Related Autoimmune Diseases, </i>such as<i> Systemic Lupus</i> <i>Erythematosus</i>
(Lupus), that affect over 100,000 Americans</li>
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<font FACE="Arial" SIZE="4"><b><p><font color="#400080">Autoimmune Forms of Arthritis</font></b></font><br>
<i><font FACE="Arial"><font size="3" color="#FF0000"><strong>Defense of the body against
microorganisms and cancer is the job of our immune system.</strong></font></p>
<p></font><font FACE="Arial" COLOR="#0000ff"><b>Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus are autoimmune diseases.</b></font></i><br>
<font FACE="Arial">The immune system is composed of a family of cells and tissues that are
distributed throughout the body. The cells of this system are also found in the blood and
are called lymphoid cells or white blood cells. To be effective, the immune system must be
able to distinguish &quot;foreign&quot; agents, termed antigens, from our own or
&quot;self&quot; tissues. Normally, this system performs flawlessly and we recover from
infectious disease and keep abnormal cancer cells under control. However, in certain
individuals the immune system appears to make a mistake and identifies &quot;self&quot;
tissues as &quot;foreign&quot; and attempts to destroy them.</p>
<p>This unfortunate condition is termed <b>autoimmune disease</b> or attacking self
tissues. Autoimmune diseases take many different forms, they may be &quot;localized&quot;
and involve a single organ or tissue or they can be &quot;systemic&quot; and involve
multiple organs and tissues. </p>
<b><p>Rheumatoid arthritis</b> (RA) and <b>Systemic Lupus Erythematosus</b> (SLE) are
examples of systemic autoimmune diseases. They usually begin locally and then the tissue
destruction and scarring progresses to include other organs and tissues. These are
relentless, progressive diseases which are characterized by alternating periods of active
tissue destruction and quiescent periods of repair and scarring. These diseases are
debilitating, disfiguring and can be lethal. Both white blood cells and soluble proteins,
termed antibodies, which are directed at self tissues are involved in causing this
disease. The general therapy is to suppress the patient&#146;s immune system and slow the
attacks on self tissues. </font></td>
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<td><p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" color="#FF0000"><strong><em>Disclaimer</em></strong></font></p>
<p align="left"><font FACE="Arial"><font color="#400080">The information provided in the
Arthritis National Research Foundation&#146;s web page is for educational purposes only.
It is not intended to provide, nor are we giving, medical advice. The foundation provides
funding for young investigators seeking the causes and treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Please consult your own healthcare provider regarding any medical issues relating to
diseases, conditions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and side effects.</font> </font></td>
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