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Arthritis is a common term for inflammation of joints, however many diseases can cause arthritis. Causes of arthritis can range from osteoarthritis, which is caused by deterioration of the cartilage that usually protects the bones from rubbing against each other, to rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system is overactive and attacking normal tissues. Most importantly, arthritis may be a sign of other systemic inflammatory processes which can form the basis for other chronic diseases.
The first step in understanding arthritis is finding out what specific type of arthritis you have. This can be done through several diagnostic tests which differentiate the causes and will help to develop a course of treatment.