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 information on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment click here.
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Research News
Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals
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.
>More Research News |
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
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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.
>More Research Stories
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Research Matters
