Say What? Common JA Terms 

Autoimmune: Normally, the body’s defense system, the immune system, finds and gets rid of bacteria and viruses that make people sick. However, with autoimmune diseases, the immune system gets confused and attacks its own healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This causes inflammation, which is the body’s response to injury.  

Biologics: Biologic drugs target specific parts of the immune system that fuel inflammation. In the last 10 years, biologics have significantly changed how arthritis is treated. 

Cartilage: This bendable, flexible material is found in various parts of the body, such as the tip of the nose and top of the ear. It also acts as a cushion between bone joints so they don’t rub together. Arthritis can cause cartilage damage, which can lead to joint pain and stiffness and even bone damage. 

Corticosteroid: This drug acts mimics one of the body’s natural hormone’s cortisol, which helps control inflammation. In arthritis, it can provide relief to swollen areas of the body. 

DMARD: This acronym stands for disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The medicine is used to slow down the effects of arthritis, reduce joint damage and decrease pain by blocking inflammation. 

Flare: This burst of pain and stiffness happens when your arthritis is acting up. These episodes can be unpredictable and differ from person to person. 

Genes: Genes determine your appearance, physical traits and diseases such as arthritis. You inherit genes from your parents. 

Inflammation: Inflammation is your body’s response to injury. For example, when you are injured, your body releases chemicals to the area to begin the healing process. When this happens, this part of the body can become red, swollen and painful. With arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, inflammation occurs when the body attacks its own healthy tissue. 

Infusion: Some medications must be given directly into the bloodstream to work. During infusions, a needle is placed into the veins. It might seem scary, but it’s safe and usually pain-free after the needle poke. 

Injection: This is another word for a shot. Some arthritis medicines are given through injection.  

Joint: These are the places where bones meet in the body. They range from big ones such as shoulders, hips and knees to small ones such as toes and fingers. Arthritis can cause joints to swell and feel stiff. 

Ligaments: These tissues hold bones together at the joints, like the elbow or knee. The tough bands make it possible to bend and move. Arthritis can cause ligaments to swell, too. 

Methotrexate: This drug is the most common disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) used to treat types of juvenile arthritis. It is thought to help block inflammation. 

Muscle: These tissues hold parts of body together and help it to do its job. There are three kinds of muscles: Cardiac muscles that pump the heart, skeletal muscles that help move body parts like your arms and legs and smooth muscles that you don’t control (like your stomach and intestines during digestion). Arthritis most commonly affects the skeletal muscles.  

NSAIDs: This acronym stands for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These drugs are commonly used to treat arthritis for pain and swelling but not to the disease.  

Remission: This happens when the signs and symptoms of a disease such as arthritis improves. This could be a short-term or long-term recovery. With arthritis, remission may mean less pain, less swelling and less medicine. 

Rheumatoid factor: This is a protein found in the blood of some people who have juvenile arthritis. The immune system creates rheumatoid factor, which attacks tissue in the body and often hurts healthy cells. A test in the doctor’s office can determine how much rheumatoid factor is in the blood, which is often used to diagnose arthritis. 

Swelling: Due to inflammation, part of the body is larger than normal. With arthritis, this can cause stiffness, redness and pain. 

Tendons: These flexible and strong tissues attach muscles to bones and help bones to move. With arthritis, inflammation in tendons can cause pain in shoulders, hands and thumbs. 

Uveitis: This happens when the middle part of the eye is inflamed and can cause redness and pain in the eye. Uveitis in kids and can be treated by an eye doctor through medicine. 

White blood cells: These are the cells in the immune system that protect the body against infections by attacking bacteria, viruses and other invaders. White blood cells are made inside bones. There can be as many as 7,000 to 25,000 of these in one drop of blood!