Guide To The Causes Of Chronic Inflammation

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can cause chronic inflammation in various joints. This process occurs when autoantibodies, proteins created by the immune system, mistakenly attack healthy tissue and organs. Although inflamed joints are the most common and visible signs of this disorder, the inflammatory process itself is believed to be much more widespread. Blood tests on patients often reveal autoantibodies in the lab results many years before their joints are affected. This is known as the preclinical stage of this disease.

However, other locations in the body can be affected during the clinical stages. The eyes, lungs, heart, brain, and blood vessels can all be vulnerable to the widespread inflammation seen in this condition. This may sometimes lead to secondary conditions, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. All these conditions are more common in rheumatoid arthritis patients than in the general population. They have been linked to systemic inflammation as well.