Harvard Medicine Research: Arthritis

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What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes. The condition that we commonly refer to as arthritis includes a number of diseases that result in inflammation, pain, and stiffness, primarily in the joints and connective tissues. Connective tissues are the supporting structures for joints, such as muscles, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. In many cases, these diseases affect other parts of the body as well. Arthritic disorders may be chronic, but some, such as gout, are intermittent. The conditions that are truly inflammatory (that is, with actual joint inflammation present) cause warmth and swelling, whereas others are degenerative, in which cartilage lining the joint wears out and the amount of inflammation is minor. For more information click here.

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Research News

Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals

New Variant associated with increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis.

New Joint Replacement Material used for hip replacement.

Unexpected Discovery in Rheumatoid Arthritis May lead to new treatments.

Women Suffering from Severe Arthritis May Also Be at High Risk for Osteoporosis
Finding challenges theory that arthritis prevents bone loss.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cardiovascular Disease May Be Linked Risk of heart attack may increase two-fold among women with arthritis.

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Research Stories

From the Harvard University Gazette

Scorpion Venom Blocks Bone Loss May help those with periodontal disease and arthritis.

Arthritis and Heart Disease Linked
Joint disease may double risk of heart attacks.

>More HU Gazette on Arthritis

Scientific Reports

From HMS Faculty Newsletter Focus

Molecule Assigned Dual Role Revised model of inflammation might alter understanding of diseases

Gold Shows Mettle Against Rheumatoid Arthritis Discovery could lead to less toxic, more effective gold-based therapies.

Scorpion Venom Attacks Bone Loss in Periodontal Disease
Discovery for periodontal disease has implications for treatment of arthritis.

Shadow Proteins in the Thymus Give Clues to Autoimmunity
A protein that is critical to helping immune cells recognize and avoid attacking far-flung organs and tissues HMS researchers.

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