Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

### Ankylosing Spondylitis

What is ankylosing spondylitis? It is arthritis that affects the spine, usually producing redness, heat, swelling, and pain in the spine where it joins the pelvis.

### Arthritis  

Arthritis is joint inflammation that can cause stiffness or pain. Learn more about the symptoms & treatments.

### Autoimmune Diseases

In autoimmune diseases, proteins known as autoantibodies target the body’s own healthy tissues by mistake, signaling the body to attack them. 

### Autoinflammatory Diseases

What are autoinflammatory diseases? They cause your immune cells to attack your body by mistake, and can cause fever, rash, joint swelling, and more.

### Gout

What is gout? It is a kind of arthritis that causes painful and stiff joints. Gout is caused by the build-up of crystals of uric acid in your joints.

### Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement surgery removes damaged or diseased parts of a hip joint and replaces them with new, artificial parts.

### Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

Juvenile arthritis describes arthritis in children. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. Find out all you need to know about juvenile arthritis.

### Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis? It damages the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones, causing bones to rub together, producing pain, swelling, and loss of motion.

### Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis

Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are closely linked inflammatory conditions. PMR causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, upper arms, hip area, and neck. GCA causes headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw pain, and eye problems.

### Psoriatic Arthritis

What is psoriatic arthritis? It can occur in people who have psoriasis (scaly red and white patches). It affects the joints and areas where tissues attach to bone.

### Reactive Arthritis 

What is reactive arthritis? It is caused by an infection and results in joint pain and swelling. You may also have red, swollen eyes and a swollen urinary tract. 

### Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis? It is a disease that affects multiple joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. Tiredness and fever may also be present.

### Scleroderma

Scleroderma causes areas of tight, hard skin, but can also harm your blood vessels and organs. Learn the causes and treatments of this skin disease.

### Sjögren’s Syndrome

What is Sjögren’s syndrome? It is a disease that affects the glands that make moisture. It most often causes dryness in the mouth and eyes.

### Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)

Lupus is a disease where the body's defense system attacks healthy cells and tissues, causing damage to many parts of the body. Learn more about this disease.

## Selected Research Areas

### Lupus Genomics and Global Health Disparities Unit

Dr. Lewandowski leads a team of scientists studying systemic lupus erythematosus patients in populations around the globe. Her research focuses on genetic drivers of severe disease and inflammation in diverse cohorts worldwide.

### Scleroderma Genomics and Health Disparities Unit

The Scleroderma Genomics and Health Disparities Unit is focused on unraveling genetic risk by using genomic technologies and dissecting the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in order to comprehend autoimmune, fibrotic, and health disparity conditions.

### Translational Genetics and Genomics Section

Led by Dr. Michael Ombrello, the section uses genomic approaches to understand the underlying factors of autoinflammatory and rheumatic diseases.

## Scientific Publications

###             Neutrophil extracellular trap-associated carbamylation and histones trigger osteoclast formation in rheumatoid arthritis.        

82(5).

###             Principles of pediatric lupus nephritis in a prospective contemporary multi-center cohort.        

30(10).

###             Somatic Mutations in UBA1 and Severe Adult-Onset Autoinflammatory Disease.        

383(27).

## Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease News

Announcement | March 5, 2024

### New Awardees Aim to Develop National Research Network That Will Explore the Role of the Exposome in Autoimmune Diseases

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), has annou

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Announcement | February 15, 2024

### NIAMS-funded Study Offers Clues to Why Women Are Disproportionately Affected by Autoimmune Diseases

Four of every five people diagnosed with an autoimmune disease are female.

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Spotlight on Research | December 11, 2023

### Study Identifies Subtypes of Inflammation in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Roundtable | November 1, 2022

### Health Disparities in Osteoarthritis Workshop – July 12-13, 2022

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Letter from the Director | June 7, 2022

### NIAMS, NIH Seek to Better Understand Arthritis in Native American Communities

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Patient and Congressional Visits | June 6, 2022

### Roundtable Discussion on Lupus with Congresswoman Lee

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September 2023

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