Arthropathy Explained

Arthropathy
Field:	Rheumatology
Synonyms:	Joint disease

An arthropathy is a disease of a joint.

Types

Arthritis is a form of arthropathy that involves inflammation of one or more joints,^{[1] [2]} while the term arthropathy may be used regardless of whether there is inflammation or not.

Joint diseases can be classified as follows:

• Arthritis

• Infectious arthritis

• Septic arthritis (infectious)

• Tuberculosis arthritis

• Reactive arthritis (indirectly)

• Noninfectious arthritis

• Seronegative spondyloarthropathy

• Psoriatic arthritis

• Ankylosing spondylitis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Felty's syndrome

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

• Adult-onset Still's disease

• Crystal arthropathy

• Gout

• Chondrocalcinosis

• Osteoarthritis
• Hemarthrosis (joint bleeding)
• Synovitis is the medical term for inflammation of the synovial membrane.
• Joint dislocation

With arthropathy in the name

• Reactive arthropathy (M02-M03) is caused by an infection, but not a direct infection of the synovial space. (See also Reactive arthritis)
• Enteropathic arthropathy (M07) is caused by colitis and related conditions.
• Crystal arthropathy (also known as crystal arthritis) (M10-M11) involves the deposition of crystals in the joint.
  • In gout, the crystal is uric acid.
  • In pseudogout/chondrocalcinosis/calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, the crystal is calcium pyrophosphate.
• Diabetic arthropathy (M14.2, E10-E14) is caused by diabetes.
• Neuropathic arthropathy (M14.6) is associated with a loss of sensation.

Spondylarthropathy is any form of arthropathy of the vertebral column.^[3]

Signs and symptoms

Joint pain is a common but non-specific sign of joint disease. Signs will depend on the specific disease, and may even then vary. Common signs may include:

• Decreased range of motion
• Stiffness
• Effusion
• Pneumarthrosis, air in a joint (which is also a common normal finding).
• Bone erosion
• Systemic signs of arthritis such as fatigue

Diagnosis

Diagnosis may be a combination of medical history, physical examination, blood tests and medical imaging (generally X-ray initially).

Notes and References

1. Web site: arthritis . TheFreeDictionary.com . March 2, 2019 . October 30, 2023.
2. Web site: Youngson . Dr. Robert . ARTHRITIS definition and meaning . Collins English Dictionary . December 20, 2017 . October 30, 2023.
3. Web site: Spondyloarthropathy . TheFreeDictionary.com . December 15, 2008 . October 30, 2023.