There are two major types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a cushion between the bones of the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 20 million people in the United States.
Osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses; in advanced cases, the cartilage cushion is completely lost. Loss of the cartilage causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility.
Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints.Affecting about 2 million Americans, Rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation in the lining of the joints and/or other internal organs, and typically affects many different joints. It is typically chronic, with acute flare-ups. The inflamed joint lining (synovium), can invade and damage bone and cartilage. Inflammatory cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage. The involved joint can lose its shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement.
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not yet known, but Rheumatoid Arthritis is recognized as an autoimmune disease. The body's natural immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue, causing inflammation and subsequent joint damage.Because both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis involve destruction of cartilage around joints, stem cell therapy has the potential to help treat the disease by restoring some of the lost tissue.
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