Flares: Periods of worsening symptoms are called flares. A flare can last for hours, days, weeks, or months.

Physical Activity: Condition improves with activity and exercise and worsens with rest.

Comorbidities: When inflammation is left uncontrolled due to lack of proper treatment, comorbidities can develop. 70% of patients with chronic, lifelong disease will develop comorbidities, including dual or triple diagnoses.

Family History: Autoimmune diseases often run in families, indicating a potential genetic predisposition where that gene can cause disease. Autoinflammatory diseases can occur multiple times in a family, but is based off of genetic mutation. It is not a gene that causes the disease— but a mutation on the gene that can cause the disease which can then be passed on to the next generation.

Fatigue that is severe and unusual, not immediately corrected with rest or caffeine. ( > 95%)

Flu-like symptoms, without having the flu- nausea, muscle weakness, and general malaise. ( > 50%)

"Brain fog", or finding it difficult to put thoughts together. This symptom historically has been mostly associated with lupus, but it is common in the other core diseases.  ( > 30%)

Fever, typically low grade in autoimmune (with exception of juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and higher grade in autoinflammatory (% strongly varies per core disease)

Joint pain in at least one joint lasting for longer than six weeks and not due to injury, other condition, or medication. (Required for differentiating this type of arthritis from mechanical pain and osteoarthritis)

Severe stiffness, which is worse after rest or inactivity. Many patients report they suddenly feel like their bed is uncomfortable because of the severe stiffness after rest. ( > 50%)

Redness and/or swelling around the joints ( > 30%)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect your joints, tissues, and organs. RA is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease. It affects the joints and often causes enthesitis (inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bones). PsA can also impact the skin and eyes. While most people with PsA have a psoriasis rash, it can be hidden (like on the scalp) or may not show up for years.

Sjögren’s disease affects your body’s moisture-producing glands, causing dryness in areas like your eyes, mouth, and skin. It can also affect organs like your lungs and kidneys.

Lupus is a disease where the immune system attacks healthy parts of your body, like joints, skin, and organs. It can be unpredictable, with periods where it gets worse (flares) and times when it gets better.

JIA is a term used to define juvenile onset disease (younger than age 16) that affects children and adolescents. There are juvenile versions of almost of the diseases under our AiArthritis disease umbrella (i.e., lupus, sjogren's disease, etc.). What was once called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in now referred to as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), which  involves many subgroups and is not specific to a juvenile version of rheumatoid arthritis.

JIA is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood. The term "idiopathic" means that the cause of the condition is unknown. Several subtypes fall under the JIA umbrella including:

Oligoarthritis: the most common subtype that affects four or fewer joints, typically including the knees, elbows, or ankles. Oligoarthritis can be further divided into:

• Persistent: Affecting a limited number of joints throughout the disease course
• Extended:  Involving more joints after the initial presentation

Polyarthritis:  Affects five or more joints, often both sides of the body.

Systemic:  Involves the entire body with symptoms such as high fever, rash, and inflammation of internal organs. The fever is usually daily, and the rash may be evanescent, meaning it comes and goes. Systemic JIA can affect multiple joints and can have more systemic complications.

Undifferentiated: This category is used when the features of JIA do not fit into one specific subtype. It may include children who do not meet the criteria for any of the other subtypes or exhibit features of more than one subtype. Inflammation is present in one or more joints for at least 6 weeks.

Enthesitis-Related Arthritis:   Enthesitis refers to inflammation where tendons or ligaments attach to bones. This subtype of JIA involves inflamed enthesitis and usually arthritis/joints, too - but not always. Enthesitis can occur often in various parts of the body, like the chest or feet. Subgroups ERA may evolve into:

• Juvenile Axial Spondyloarthritis:   Specifically affecting the spine/lower back.
• Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis:   Characterized by both arthritis (and likely enthesitis) and psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches.

When autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases with inflammation-driven arthritis as a major component are not fully developed, or overlap so that a precise diagnosis cannot be determined, they are often given an "undifferentiated" diagnosis. 

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Crohn’s Disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, especially in the small and large intestines. Crohn’s Disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and is often paired with Ulcerative Colitis as the most common types of IBD. Crohn’s Disease is under the AiArthritis umbrella with arthritic symptoms.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of sarcoid granulomas—tiny clumps of inflammatory cells—in one or more organs of the body. When the immune system goes into overdrive and too many of these clumps form, they can interfere with an organ’s structure and function. When left unchecked, chronic inflammation can lead to fibrosis, which is the permanent scarring of organ tissue. This disorder affects the lungs or lymph nodes in approximately 90% of cases, but it can affect almost any organ in the body. 

Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of cartilage in the body. It most commonly affects the ears, nose, airways, and joints but can also involve the eyes, heart, and brain.

Behcet’s disease is a rare condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). It can affect various parts of the body, including the mouth, eyes, skin, and internal organs.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a genetic disorder that causes repeated episodes of pain and inflammation in the abdomen, chest, joints, and skin, along with fever. It mostly affects people from Mediterranean backgrounds, such as Arab, Armenian, Turkish, and Sephardic Jewish populations. FMF comes in two types:

• FMF Type 1: Causes recurring inflammation and symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, chest pain, and joint pain. If not treated, it can lead to kidney problems due to a buildup of a protein called amyloidosis.
• FMF Type 2: The main symptom is amyloidosis, even if other FMF symptoms aren’t present.

Hyper IgD Syndrome (HIDS), also called mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), is a rare autoinflammatory disease caused by a genetic mutation. This mutation affects the mevalonate kinase enzyme, leading to inflammation in the body. Symptoms usually begin in early childhood and happen in episodes, meaning they come and go with periods of little to no symptoms in between.

Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis (CNO) also called Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare autoinflammatory disease where the bones become inflamed without infection. It causes long-term bone pain and swelling, often affecting the long bones, pelvis, shoulder, and spine. The disease mostly occurs in children.

Schnitzler syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disease. People with this condition usually have non-itchy hives (urticaria) and abnormal levels of certain proteins in their blood, especially a protein called monoclonal IgM gammopathy.

Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) are a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and related symptoms. CAPS is caused by mutations in the NLRP3 gene, which provides instructions for making a protein called cryopyrin. Cryopyrin is involved in the regulation of the immune system, specifically in the process of inflammation.

There are three main conditions within the CAPS spectrum, which vary in terms of severity:

• Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS): This is the mildest form of CAPS. Symptoms are triggered or worsened by exposure to cold temperatures. Patients experience rash, fever, joint pain, and other signs of inflammation during these episodes.
• Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS): MWS is a moderate form of CAPS. Symptoms are more persistent and may not always be triggered by cold exposure. Patients with MWS experience recurrent fever, rash, joint pain, and eye redness. Progressive hearing loss can also occur.
• Chronic Infantile Neurological, Cutaneous, and Articular Syndrome (CINCA) or Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID): CINCA/NOMID is the most severe form of CAPS. Symptoms begin in infancy and include rash, joint swelling, chronic meningitis, and skeletal abnormalities. Neurological symptoms are also common, leading to developmental delays.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and tenderness in muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It frequently coexists with autoimmune and autoinflammatory arthritis, causing additional pain and fatigue, and is often misunderstood to be an autoimmune disease

Heart disease encompasses a range of conditions affecting the heart, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and heart failure. Autoimmune and autoinflammatory arthritis can increase the risk of heart disease due to chronic inflammation.

Interstitial lung disease includes a group of lung disorders that cause scarring of lung tissue, leading to breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen intake. Inflammatory arthritis can cause lung inflammation and scarring, contributing to these lung issues.

Dysautonomia is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, affecting heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation. It often occurs in patients with autoimmune diseases, causing symptoms like lightheadedness and fatigue.

Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition where blood flow to fingers and toes is restricted, leading to cold, numb, and discolored extremities. It often occurs with autoimmune diseases like scleroderma and lupus, as inflammation affects blood vessels.

Eye inflammation includes conditions such as uveitis, iritis, scleritis, and ocular inflammation, causing pain, redness, and vision problems. It can be a complication of autoimmune and autoinflammatory arthritis.

Potential dental issues include gum inflammation, periodontal disease, and tooth decay. Inflammation from autoimmune diseases can affect oral health, leading to increased dental problems.

Vasculitis is the inflammation of blood vessels, causing reduced blood flow and potential damage to organs and tissues. It can occur with autoimmune diseases, leading to symptoms like rashes, fatigue, and organ damage.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It frequently coexists with other autoimmune diseases, causing digestive issues and nutrient absorption problems.

Thyroidism encompasses disorders of the thyroid gland, including hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease are common in patients with other autoimmune conditions.

Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), leading to kidney damage. It is a severe complication of lupus, affecting kidney function and health.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by tissue infiltration with IgG4-positive plasma cells, causing tissue enlargement and organ dysfunction. It can coexist with autoimmune diseases, leading to inflammation in various organs.