March Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month: Autoimmune Arthritis Focus

Why Autoimmune Disease Awareness Matters:

Approximately 300 million people worldwide are diagnosed with at least one AiArthritis disease. However, research suggests that over 50% of patients go undiagnosed or are diagnosed with a "undifferentiated" disease*, increasing this number to an estimated 450 million. Autoimmune diseases often take a long time to diagnose and are frequently missed for several reasons:

• Symptom Overlap: Many autoimmune diseases share common symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, and inflammation, which can overlap with other conditions. This makes it challenging for healthcare providers to pinpoint the exact cause.
• Non-Specific Symptoms: Symptoms of autoimmune diseases can be vague and non-specific, such as general malaise, muscle aches, and weakness. These symptoms can be attributed to a variety of other health issues, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
• Episodic Nature: Autoimmune diseases often have periods of remission and flare-ups. During remission, symptoms may subside, making it difficult for doctors to observe the full clinical picture.
• Lack of Specific Tests: There is often no single test that can definitively diagnose an autoimmune disease. Diagnosis usually requires a combination of clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes biopsies.
• Rarity and Complexity: Some autoimmune diseases are rare or complex, and many healthcare providers may not have extensive experience with them. This can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses as doctors may not immediately recognize the signs.
• Gender Bias: Autoimmune diseases are more common in women, and sometimes symptoms may be dismissed or attributed to stress or psychological factors. This can delay proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Variability in Presentation: Autoimmune diseases can present differently in each individual. The variability in symptoms and severity can make it challenging to identify the disease early on.
• Misdiagnosis: Due to the overlapping and non-specific nature of symptoms, autoimmune diseases are often misdiagnosed as other conditions. This can lead to inappropriate treatments and further delays in reaching the correct diagnosis.

Raising Autoimmune Disease Awareness Encourages:

• Early Diagnosis: Many autoimmune diseases have symptoms that can be mistaken for other conditions, leading to delays in diagnosis. By raising awareness, we can encourage people to seek medical attention early, improving their prognosis and quality of life.
• Advancing Research: Increased awareness can lead to more funding and interest in research, helping to develop better treatments and potentially finding a cure.
• Reducing Stigma: Educating the public about autoimmune diseases can help reduce the stigma and misconceptions surrounding these conditions.
• Building a Supportive Community: Awareness initiatives can help create a supportive community where individuals with autoimmune diseases can share their experiences and find support.

Understanding The Difference Between Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis

There are over 100 autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, but only a couple dozen prominently feature inflammatory arthritis (referred to as Autoimmune Arthritis and Autoinflammatory Arthritis, or AiArthritis). These diseases are caused by the immune system, which is a network of cells and tissues throughout the body that work to defend us from viruses, bacteria, and infection. In our diseases, immune cells target the body's own healthy tissues by mistake and signals the body to attack them. While there is no one cause for either autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases, we do know each originates in a part of the immune system.

While arthritis unites these diseases, because they are autoimmune and autoinflammatory in nature  they affect more than just the joints. The inflammation travels through the bloodstream, so these diseases affect the whole body, including tissues and organs. 

Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases:

Autoimmune Disease. A group of over 80 diseases caused by reactions of the adaptive immune system, which develops over time. In most cases, these diseases result from a combination of genetic and environmental influences, such as viruses, bacteria, and hormonal triggers, especially in individuals with a genetic predisposition. Autoimmune Arthritis Types:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
• Reactive Arthritis
• Palindromic Rheumatism
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Sjögren's Disease
• Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)
• Crohn’s Disease
• Antisynthetase Syndrome
• Undifferentiated Disease (UD) 
• Relapsing Polychondritis (RP)
• Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA)
• Non-radiographic axSpA
• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
• Oligoarthritis (Persistent and Extended)
• Polyarthritis
• Systemic
• Undifferentiated
• Enthesitis-Related Arthritis
• Juvenile Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis

Autoinflammatory Arthritis Diseases:

Autoinflammatory Disease. A group of around 2 dozen rare diseases caused by Innate Immune System (inborn) reactions.  While often there is no known cause, genetic mutations are often thought to be responsible.

• Still's Disease
• Adult-Onset Still's Disease (AOSD)
• Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA)
• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)
• Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS)
• Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS)
• Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS)
• Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID)
• VEXAS Syndrome
• Sarcoidosis
• Behcet’s Disease
• Hyper IgD Syndrome (HIDS)
• Schnitzler syndrome
• Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis/Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CNO/CRMO)

Three Ways How You Can Get Involved 

There are many ways to participate in Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month and support the cause:

• Share Your Story: Share your experiences and stories on social media using the hashtag #AutoimmuneDiseaseAwarenessMonth to raise awareness and inspire others.
• Organize Events: Host events such as information sessions, workshops, or fundraisers to educate others about autoimmune diseases and raise funds for research and support services.
• Support Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that provide support and resources for people with autoimmune diseases.