Polyarthritis

Arthritis involving two or more synovial joints, typically characterized by inflammatory pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Causes

• Autoimmune and inflammatory causes

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • Psoriatic arthritis

  • Ankylosing spondylitis

  • Other seronegative spondyloarthropathies

  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

• Infectious causes

  • Hepatitis B/C virus

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

  • Parvovirus B19

  • Lyme disease

  • Reactive arthritis: Sexually transmitted infections, GI infections

  • Disseminated gonococcal infection

• Crystal-induced causes

  • Gout

  • Pseudogout: Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease

• Osteoarthritis

• Other systemic causes

  • Sarcoidosis

  • Inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis

  • Vasculitis

  • Hemochromatosis

  • Endocrine disorders affecting joints

• Other causes

  • Post-traumatic arthritis

  • Medication-induced arthritis