Which condition is an autoimmune inflammatory joint disease?

Which condition is an autoimmune inflammatory joint disease?

• A. Gout
• B. Rheumatoid arthritis
• C. Osteoarthritis
• D. Osteoporosis

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, where the immune system mistakenly targets the joints. In RA, immune cells such as CD4+ T cells drive chronic inflammation in the synovial lining, releasing cytokines like TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6. This causes synovitis, swelling, pain, and ultimately destruction of cartilage and bone through the growth of pannus tissue. The pattern is often symmetric and commonly involves small joints of the hands and feet, and it can have systemic features beyond the joints. This explains why rheumatoid arthritis is the best choice: it is driven by autoimmunity and inflammation of the joints. In contrast, gout results from deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and is not autoimmune; osteoarthritis is a degenerative, wear-and-tear process with non-inflammatory joint changes; osteoporosis is a loss of bone density without joint inflammation.

The key idea is that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, where the immune system mistakenly targets the joints. In RA, immune cells such as CD4+ T cells drive chronic inflammation in the synovial lining, releasing cytokines like TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6. This causes synovitis, swelling, pain, and ultimately destruction of cartilage and bone through the growth of pannus tissue. The pattern is often symmetric and commonly involves small joints of the hands and feet, and it can have systemic features beyond the joints.

This explains why rheumatoid arthritis is the best choice: it is driven by autoimmunity and inflammation of the joints. In contrast, gout results from deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and is not autoimmune; osteoarthritis is a degenerative, wear-and-tear process with non-inflammatory joint changes; osteoporosis is a loss of bone density without joint inflammation.