What autoimmune diseases are similar to rheumatoid arthritis?

Conditions That Can Look Like RA
  • Lyme Disease.
  • Psoriatic Arthritis.
  • Sjögren's Syndrome.
  • Gout.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Lupus.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com

What viruses trigger rheumatoid arthritis?

The Epstein-Barr virus isn't the only virus suspected as an infectious agent in RA. Other examples include retroviruses and parvovirus B19, which causes fifth disease.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com

Does lupus mimic rheumatoid arthritis?

When lupus affects the joints, the symptoms can mimic those for RA: pain, stiffness, and swelling. Typically, they're not as bad with lupus. You also may have other symptoms that are common with RA, such as a mild fever, weight loss, and dry eyes. Lupus can trigger some distinct symptoms of its own.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com

What is the difference between Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frustrating enough on its own. But about 15 percent of people with RA develop a complication that affects the tear and saliva glands, causing dry mouth, dry eyes, dry skin, and additional symptoms that further aggravate their arthritis. It's called Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on everydayhealth.com

Can MS be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis?

Can multiple sclerosis be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis? Multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis share similar symptoms, so one condition can be mistaken for the other. However, this is rare because diagnostic testing methods vary between two conditions.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com

Rheumatoid Arthritis | autoimmune disorder | Pathophysiology, risk factors ,treatment.

22 related questions found

Which condition may be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis medical term?

Lupus. Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a potentially fatal autoimmune disease that affects many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. "The arthritis of lupus can mimic very closely that of rheumatoid arthritis," noted Dr.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on everydayhealth.com

Can fibromyalgia be mistaken for RA?

The main link between fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis is that they have similar symptoms and cause pain. Their similarities can make diagnosis difficult, so it is possible for fibromyalgia to be misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com

What were your first symptoms of Sjogren's?

Dry mouth.
  • Joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
  • Swollen salivary glands — particularly the set located behind your jaw and in front of your ears.
  • Skin rashes or dry skin.
  • Vaginal dryness.
  • Persistent dry cough.
  • Prolonged fatigue.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org

What are the hallmark symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome?

The hallmark symptoms of the disorder are dry mouth and dry eyes. In addition, Sjogren's syndrome may cause skin, nose, and vaginal dryness, and may affect other organs of the body including the kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and brain.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ninds.nih.gov

How do you know if you have Sjogren's syndrome?

Specific Tests for Sjögren's Syndrome

To make a Sjögren's syndrome diagnosis, doctors must see specific antibodies (blood proteins) in your blood. They also need to see a pattern of inflammation, found most often on the salivary glands of your lips, which is characteristic of Sjögren's syndrome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hopkinsmedicine.org

What else could it be besides rheumatoid arthritis?

Nonetheless, RA is not the only condition which includes joint inflammation, fever, and fatigue as its symptoms. In fact, these are also common in several other conditions like Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Gout, Lupus, and infectious arthritis.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on walkinlab.com

How does a rheumatologist know you don't have lupus?

Because these diseases cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone, a rheumatologist will probably order blood tests to check for various autoantibodies, which are markers in your blood that your immune system makes when it is attacking itself.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on creakyjoints.org

How to tell the difference between lupus and rheumatoid arthritis?

Differences between RA and lupus

RA primarily affects your joints, including the fingers, wrists, knees, and ankles. RA can also cause joints to become misshapen, whereas lupus usually doesn't. Joint swelling is common in RA but rare in lupus.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com

What is the root cause of rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means it's caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. However, it's not yet known what triggers this. Your immune system normally makes antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses, helping to fight infection.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk

What is the number one cause of rheumatoid arthritis?

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Researchers think it's caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors. Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on my.clevelandclinic.org

What causes rheumatoid to flare up?

Overexertion, poor sleep, stress or an infection like the flu can all set off RA symptoms. With a predictable flare you'll temporarily feel worse, but your symptoms will resolve in time. Unpredictable flares have more uncertainty associated with them.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on arthritis.org

Does Sjogren's show up in blood test?

Blood tests

In Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system produces antibodies that attack healthy areas of the body. These can be found during a blood test. But not everyone with Sjögren's syndrome has these antibodies, so you may have the condition even if a blood test does not find them.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk

What does sjogrens skin look like?

Sjogren's syndrome patients often develop a purple-to-red rash that does not lighten when pressure is applied. They may also show purpura (rashes with blood spots) that's indicative of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels). If you observe any of these rashes on your skin, consult a dermatologist.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sjogrenssyndromenews.com

Can Sjogren's affect your legs?

Sjögren's syndrome can also cause swollen or painful joints, muscle pain or weakness, dry skin, rashes, brain fog (poor concentration or memory), numbness and tingling sensations in the arms and legs due to nerve involvement, heartburn, kidney problems and swollen lymph nodes.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on arthritis.org

What triggers sjogrens?

In Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system attacks the tear and saliva glands, and other secretory glands throughout the body. The reasons for this remains unknown, but research suggests that it's triggered by a combination of genetic, environmental and, possibly, hormonal factors.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhsinform.scot

What kind of pain does sjogrens cause?

Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome. Multiple joints are painful, usually episodically with periods of joint pain, known as “flares”, followed by periods of little or no joint pain. Tenderness and swelling of the joints, when present, are indicative of inflammatory arthritis.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hopkinssjogrens.org

Who is most likely to get Sjogren's syndrome?

Who Gets Sjögren's Syndrome? Most people with Sjögren's syndrome are women. You can get it at any age, but it is most common in people in their 40s and 50s. It occurs across all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on niams.nih.gov

What feels like rheumatoid arthritis but isnt?

Lupus. When lupus, a systemic autoimmune disease, affects the joints, it can cause symptoms similar to RA. Most people with lupus also experience flares, where symptoms get worse, then improve or disappear. Other similar signs of lupus and RA include fatigue, fever, and dry eyes.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on creakyjoints.org

Which is more painful rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia?

Rheumatoid arthritis causes visible damage to joints. Fibromyalgia does not. Rheumatoid arthritis also gets progressively worse, causing swelling and sometimes deformities. The pain from fibromyalgia is more widespread, while rheumatoid arthritis is concentrated initially to hands, wrists, knees and balls of the feet.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on eehealth.org

Can a rheumatologist tell you if you have fibromyalgia?

However, because fibromyalgia can cause chronic pain and fatigue similar to arthritis, some people may advise you to see a rheumatologist. As a result, often a rheumatologist detects this disease (and rules out rheumatic diseases).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on rheumatology.org