Etiology
1.
Inflammatory Causes
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
An autoimmune disease causing chronic synovial inflammation.
Psoriatic Arthritis:
Associated with psoriasis, leading to joint inflammation and damage.
Gout:
Deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, often affecting the big toe.
Pseudogout:
Deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals.
Ankylosing Spondylitis:
A type of spondyloarthritis affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints.
Reactive Arthritis:
Post-infectious arthritis, often following gastrointestinal or genitourinary infections.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE):
Autoimmune disease with polyarthritis as a common manifestation.
2.
Degenerative Causes
Osteoarthritis (OA):
Degenerative joint disease due to cartilage wear and tear.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis:
Resulting from previous joint injuries or fractures.
3.
Infectious Causes
Septic Arthritis:
Bacterial infection within a joint (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus).
Lyme Disease:
Tick-borne disease caused by
Borrelia burgdorferi
, leading to migratory joint pain.
Viral Arthritis:
Associated with infections like parvovirus, chikungunya, or hepatitis.
Tuberculous Arthritis:
Chronic infection of the joint by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
4.
Traumatic Causes
Sprains and Strains:
Ligament or muscle injuries around a joint.
Fractures:
Bone fractures involving or near a joint.
Dislocations:
Misalignment of joint surfaces.
Overuse Injuries:
Repetitive strain on a joint (e.g., tendonitis, bursitis).
5.
Systemic Causes
Fibromyalgia:
Widespread musculoskeletal pain with joint discomfort.
Vasculitis:
Inflammation of blood vessels affecting joints (e.g., polyarteritis nodosa).
Hemophilia:
Joint bleeds causing pain and damage.
Sarcoidosis:
Granulomatous disease affecting multiple systems, including joints.
Malignancy:
Metastatic cancers or hematologic malignancies (e.g., leukemia) causing joint pain.
6.
Endocrine and Metabolic Causes
Hypothyroidism:
Can lead to joint stiffness and pain.
Hyperparathyroidism:
Causes bone pain and joint discomfort due to increased calcium levels.
Vitamin D Deficiency (Osteomalacia):
Causes bone softening and associated joint pain.
7.
Other Causes
Psychogenic Causes:
Somatization or stress-related joint pain.
Drug-Induced Arthralgia:
Medications like aromatase inhibitors, fluoroquinolones, or statins.
Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy:
Associated with lung cancer or chronic pulmonary conditions.