Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Polymyositis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is another autoimmune disorder that can increase an individual's risk of developing polymyositis. This disorder causes chronic inflammation in the joints and other parts of the body. It's best known for causing joint pain and progressive joint damage over time. There are more than a hundred types of arthritis, but not all of them are caused by the immune system. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the lining of an individual's joints to become damaged and swollen because their immune system mistakenly attacks it. As time goes on, this swelling can lead to deformities in the joints and bone erosion. Since there's chronic inflammation, other systems throughout the body can also sustain damage. In the early stages, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the smaller joints, like those attaching the fingers and toes to the body. As the symptoms progress, larger joints throughout the body can become affected. If individuals develop polymyositis, this can add to the potentially damaging inflammation in the body. It can also be difficult to diagnose polymyositis, since many of its symptoms can be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis.

Learn more about the causes and risk factors associated with polymyositis now.