Inflammatory arthritis is a group of chronic autoimmune diseases where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissues. This leads to ongoing joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling. Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear, inflammatory arthritis is caused by immune system dysfunction and can affect multiple joints—and even internal organs—if left untreated.
Common types include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
- Lupus-related arthritis
How Is Inflammatory Arthritis Diagnosed?
- Blood tests (to detect inflammation and autoantibodies such as RF, anti-CCP, CRP, ESR)
- Imaging (X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound to evaluate joint damage or inflammation)
- Physical examination (assessing joint swelling, tenderness, and mobility)
- Patient history (including symptom patterns and family history of autoimmune conditions)
Common Symptoms Include:
- Joint pain and stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
- Swollen, red, or warm joints
- Fatigue or low energy
- Reduced range of motion
- General discomfort or flu-like symptoms during flare-ups
- In some cases, skin changes, eye inflammation, or organ involvement
How Is It Treated?
Focusing on controlling the symptoms is the best thing you can do for inflammatory arthritis. Because there is no cure, treatment focuses on controlling inflammation, relieving pain, and preventing joint damage. The goal is to achieve remission or low disease activity.
Infusion Therapy at Infusion Specialists
For patients with moderate to severe inflammatory arthritis, especially those who haven’t responded to oral medications, infusion therapy offers advanced treatment options. The team at Infusion Specialists, provides infusion therapies in a comfortable, monitored setting with personalized care. Infusions that we offer for treatment of inflammatory arthritis are:
- Biologic Infusion Therapies
- IV corticosteroids for rapid inflammation control during flare-ups
- IV Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) such as cyclophosphamide or methotrexate, when prescribed by your rheumatologist.