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Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects many different parts of the body. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks itself because it cannot tell the difference between healthy tissue and foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses.

Lupus symptoms can show up in many different ways and are often mistaken for symptoms of other diseases. This is why it can be hard to diagnose and is often called “the great imitator.” Lupus symptoms can range from mild to life threatening, so early diagnosis and treatment by a rheumatologist are important. A rheumatologist is a doctor who has additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, lupus, and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones.

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful. It usually affects one joint at a time (often the big toe joint). There are times when symptoms get worse, known as flares, and times when there are no symptoms, known as remission. Having gout multiple times can lead to gouty arthritis, a form of arthritis which gets progressively worse.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Some people call it degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees.

With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change. These changes usually develop slowly and get worse over time. OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases it also causes reduced function and disability; some people are no longer able to do daily tasks or work.

Temporal arteritis (TA), also called giant cell arteritis (GCA) or cranial arteritis, is a systemic inflammatory vasculitis of medium and large-sized arteries occurring most frequently in adults.  TA leads to ischemic optic neuropathy with potentially irreversible vision loss on the affected side with potential contralateral involvement. Left untreated, it can result in many systemic, neurologic, and ophthalmologic complications.

Vasculitis describes a group of rare conditions, also called angiitis, that damage blood vessels by causing inflammation, or swelling. Vasculitis can affect any size and type of blood vessel (arteries and veins), anywhere in the body.

Vasculitis is called primary when the cause cannot be identified. It is called secondary when something else causes it to occur. Potential triggers of this inflammation include infections, trauma, some drugs, and autoimmune disorders (diseases that cause your immune system to abnormally react against normal cells and tissues in your body). The inflamed lining (walls) of blood vessels may restrict or completely block blood flow, or it may cause formation of blood clots. In rare cases an inflamed vessel wall may balloon, forming an aneurysm with thin walls at risk of tearing.