The skeletal and immune system have homeostatic interrelationship, which is evident, for example, in case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA, defects of the immune system were revealed in the form of a clear decrease in the expression of molecular CD3 + receptors in peripheral blood without significant changes in CD4 +, which indicates a violation of the processes of T-cell differentiation in patients suffering from this disease (Melle, 2018). RA can suggest that only the joints are affected, without influencing other organs. In systemic manifestations, the autoimmune processes are reflected in the heart, lungs, kidneys, nervous system. The development of the disease is associated with the deposition of a pathological protein in the organs. A feature of rheumatoid arthritis is symmetrical joint damage – for example, the small joints of both hands.
The musculoskeletal system determine the shape of the body, provide support, protective and motor functions. This is the basis of the entire human body (Schuenke et al., 2020).
RA is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the joints, leading to permanent disability and early death of patients.
One of the most frequent manifestations of RA is spinal lesions, which significantly impairs the patients’ quality of life (Melle, 2018).
With RA, the joints are necessarily affected, and namely the articular syndrome makes a patient seek medical help.
Although RA is mediated by autoimmune reactions, the exact cause of the disease is unknown; many factors can contribute to its development.
Lesion of the spine in the form of osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis is observed in 1/2 of the number of patients with RA, and it is clinically manifested in 35% of cases (Ciurtin & Isenberg, 2016).
There is involvement of the wrist, elbow, hip, and sacroiliac joints in the process, the presence of systemic osteoporosis, sensory and motor disorders due to peripheral neuropathy (Melle, 2018).
The ratio of the frequency of mechanical, dysfixation, dyshemic, and inflammatory nature of pain in the spine in RA is 1:2:6:14 (Melle, 2018). X-rays reveal ossification of the outer layers of intervertebral discs and the formation of syndesmophytes, as well as spondylodiscitis (Ciurtin & Isenberg, 2016).
Due to the frequent development of vertebral osteoporosis, RA is considered a risk factor for vertebral fractures.
Spinal cord compression due to rheumatoid spondylopathy is often combined with the development of peripheral neuropathy (Ciurtin & Isenberg, 2016).
References
Ciurtin, C., & Isenberg, D. A. (2016). Biologics in rheumatology: New developments, clinical uses and health implication. Nova Science Pub.
Melle, A. (2018). Rheumatoid arthritis: Risk factors, health effects and treatment options. Nova Science Pub.
Schuenke, M., Schulte, E., Schumacher, U., & Johnson, N. (2020). General anatomy and musculoskeletal system (3rd ed.). Thieme.