Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsArthritis TypesSystemic SymptomsRheumatoid ArthritisSystemic LupusJuvenile ArthritisPsoriatic ArthritisSjögren’s Disease
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Arthritis Types
Systemic Symptoms
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Systemic Lupus
Juvenile Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Sjögren’s Disease
Arthritisis a disease of the joints. But many types of arthritis go beyond the joints and affect other parts of the body.
When that happens, it’s called “systemic disease,” especially when it impactsmultiple organ systems.
This article looks at systemic types of arthritis plus their symptoms, causes, and risk factors.
Peter Dazeley/ Getty Images
Systemic forms of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritisis the most common form of arthritis. However, it’s not a systemic disease—it only affects the joints.
When arthritis affects the whole body, it can cause a wide range of symptoms. These include:
Arthritis doesn’t need to be severe in order to have non-joint-related symptoms. Sometimes, systemic symptoms can appear in people with minimal joint pain.
Why Systemic Disease?
Researchers don’t yet know why one person with arthritis develops systemic disease while another doesn’t. They suspect a mix of genetic and environmental factors are behind the difference.
Early diagnosis and treatment may also help you avoid systemic complications.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system targets the lining of your joints. That causes inflammation, which eventually wears away your bones and joints. Over time, it can cause joint deformity and loss of function.
Non-systemicsymptoms of RAinclude:
Symptoms typically hit the small joints (wrists, hands, feet) first.
About 40% of people with RA will havesystemic involvementat some point.The symptoms depend on what organ or system RA targets. Common ones include:
Systemic RA symptoms may develop even if you don’t have significant joint problems.
What Is Autoimmunity?Autoimmunity occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies a healthy part of your body as a threat, such as a virus. It then creates specialized cells called antibodies that try to destroy the targeted body part.
What Is Autoimmunity?
Autoimmunity occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies a healthy part of your body as a threat, such as a virus. It then creates specialized cells called antibodies that try to destroy the targeted body part.
What Are Autoimmune Diseases?
Who Gets Systemic Symptoms?
A few things make you more likely to develop systemic RA symptoms. They are:
While men are more likely to have systemic involvement, RA is significantly more common in women.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form oflupus. It’s an autoimmune disease that’s highly inflammatory.
A healthy immune system creates a controlled amount of inflammation as part of the response to illness or injury. In SLE, certain parts of the immune system become overactive and inflammation isn’t properly controlled.
Unlike many autoimmune diseases, the antibodies of SLE don’t attack one particular type of cell or tissue. They can strike in many different places.
SLE usually involves flares (periods of intense symptoms) and remissions (periods of low or absent symptoms.)
Common systemic symptoms and complications of SLE include:
The nature of the complications depends on where the inflammation is.
Risk factors for SLE complications vary. Not all complications have known risk factors. Some that are known include:
If you’rediagnosed with SLEand are at high risk for complications, let your healthcare provider know.
Immune System Disorders and Diseases
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an umbrella term for several forms of autoimmune or autoinflammatory arthritis that affect kids under 16. Two types are associated with systemic symptoms: systemic JIA and psoriatic JIA.
Common symptoms of JIA include joint pain and stiffness and joints that are warm, red, and swollen.
Systemic symptoms of JIA can include:
Systemic JIA
In addition, systemic JIA may affect internal organs. Symptoms depend on which organ is under attack.
For example, scarring and inflammation in the lungs can lead to shortness of breath. Inflammation of the heart muscle may cause heart damage.
Psoriatic JIA
Psoriatic JIA affects the skin, causing a skin condition calledpsoriasis. Psoriasis causes raised, scaly patches on the skin called plaques. The plaques may be itchy or painful. They’re most common on the elbows, knees, and scalp, but they can be anywhere.
Beyond psoriasis, research suggests this disease may be linked to:
Little is known about why some kids develop systemic and psoriatic JIA. Researchers are just beginning to understand why some of them develop systemic complications.
Research suggests children with systemic JIA are more likely to develop lung disease if they:
The conditions that may be related to psoriatic JIA all involve inflammation, Some of them may share common genetic differences, as well.
This is an area that still needs considerable research into the relationships and risk factors.
Causes and Treatments for Skin Inflammation
Natalia SERDYUK / Getty Images
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) typically causes joint inflammation and plaques on the skin (psoriasis).
Common localized symptoms of PsA include:
The severity of psoriasis and arthritis symptoms have little relationship to each other. You may have severe skin symptoms but low joint pain or vice versa.
Systemic symptoms of PsA may include:
Little is known about why some people with PsA develop systemic symptoms. Research suggests:
This is an area that needs considerably more research.
Sjögren’s disease (SjD, formerly known as Sjögren’s syndrome) isn’t a true form of arthritis but it is an autoimmune disease that often causes joint pain and inflammation.
In Sjögren’s disease, the immune system attacks moisture-producing glands, especially those that maketearsandsaliva. It may also attack other organs or systems.
Common localized Sjögren’s symptoms are:
The dryness of Sjögren’s goes beyond just an annoyance. Untreated, it may lead to vision impairment or blindness, destruction of teeth, and serious mouth infections. Sjögren’s disease is common alongside other autoimmune diseases.
When the immune-system attacks go beyond the glands, systemic symptoms may include:
Lymphoma is uncommon, only affecting between 5% and 10% of people with SS.
What Is Dysautonomia?Dysautonomia, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction, can involve problems with heart rate, blood pressure, excessive sweating, temperature regulation, digestion, bladder control, and balance.
What Is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction, can involve problems with heart rate, blood pressure, excessive sweating, temperature regulation, digestion, bladder control, and balance.
Researchers don’t yet know why some people develop systemic SS symptoms. Some studies have started to shed light on this subject, though.
Research suggests risk factors for lymphoma include:
Some genetic profiles are being developed for lung disease in SS, but this work is in its early stages.
Summary
Several types of arthritis can have symptoms outside of the joints. Sometimes they’re in multiple bodily systems. This is called systemic disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Sjögren’s disease can have systemic involvement, as well as spondylarthritis (which includes psoriatic arthritis), ankylosing spondylitis, IBD-associated arthritis, and reactive arthritis.
Symptoms of systemic disease may involve fatigue, fevers, nerve problems, disease of the heart, lungs, and kidneys, cancer, and much more.
The causes of systemic involvement are unknown but researchers have identified some risk factors.
A Word From Verywell
The thought of living with a chronic, systemic disease can be frightening. The most important thing for you to do is talk to your healthcare provider.
Make an appointment right away if:
Early diagnosis and treatment are the best ways to manage the disease and prevent systemic problems.
25 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis and rheumatic diseases.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Osteoarthritis.Kim JW, Suh CH.Systemic manifestations and complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(6):2008. doi:10.3390/jcm9062008Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD, Tanasescu R.Extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Maedica (Bucur). 2010;5(4):286–91.Deane KD, Demoruelle MK, Kelmenson LB, Kuhn KA, Norris JM, Holers VM.Genetic and environmental risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2017;31(1):3-18. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2017.08.003Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.When it’s time to see a doctor for joint pain.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms.Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.How lupus affects the immune system.National Resource Center on Lupus.Lupus symptoms.Lupus Foundation of America.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?.American Kidney Fund.Lupus nephritis: Symptoms, treatment and complications.Nikolopoulos D, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT.Cerebrovascular events in systemic lupus erythematosus: Diagnosis and management.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2019;30(1):7-15. doi:10.31138/mjr.30.1.7Rodriguez-Hernandez A, Ortiz-Orendain J, Alvarez-Palazuelos LE, Gonzalez-Lopez L, Gamez-Nava JI, Zavala-Cerna MG.Seizures in systemic lupus erythematosus: A scoping review.Seizure. 2021;86:161-167. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2021.02.021Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.Brandon TG, Manos CK, Xiao R, Ogdie A, Weiss PF.Pediatric psoriatic arthritis: A population-based cohort study of risk factors for onset and subsequent risk of inflammatory comorbidities.J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis. 2018;3(4):131-136. doi:10.1177/2475530318799072Schulert GS, Yasin S, Carey B, et al.Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated lung disease: Characterization and risk factors.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(11):1943-1954. doi:10.1002/art.41073National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.Woo YR, Park CJ, Kang H, Kim JE.The risk of systemic diseases in those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: From mechanisms to clinic.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(19):7041. doi:10.3390/ijms21197041National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sjögren’s syndrome.Fragkioudaki S, Mavragani CP, Moutsopoulos HM.Predicting the risk for lymphoma development in Sjogren syndrome: An easy tool for clinical use.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(25):e3766. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003766American College of Rheumatology.Sjögren’s syndrome.Sogkas G, Hirsch S, Olsson KM, et al.Lung involvement in primary Sjögren’s syndrome-an under-diagnosed entity.Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:332. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00332Moutasim KA, Shirlaw PJ, Escudier MP, Poate TW.Congenital heart block associated with Sjögren syndrome: Case report.Int Arch Med. 2009;2(1):21. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-2-21
25 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis and rheumatic diseases.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Osteoarthritis.Kim JW, Suh CH.Systemic manifestations and complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(6):2008. doi:10.3390/jcm9062008Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD, Tanasescu R.Extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Maedica (Bucur). 2010;5(4):286–91.Deane KD, Demoruelle MK, Kelmenson LB, Kuhn KA, Norris JM, Holers VM.Genetic and environmental risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2017;31(1):3-18. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2017.08.003Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.When it’s time to see a doctor for joint pain.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms.Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.How lupus affects the immune system.National Resource Center on Lupus.Lupus symptoms.Lupus Foundation of America.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?.American Kidney Fund.Lupus nephritis: Symptoms, treatment and complications.Nikolopoulos D, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT.Cerebrovascular events in systemic lupus erythematosus: Diagnosis and management.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2019;30(1):7-15. doi:10.31138/mjr.30.1.7Rodriguez-Hernandez A, Ortiz-Orendain J, Alvarez-Palazuelos LE, Gonzalez-Lopez L, Gamez-Nava JI, Zavala-Cerna MG.Seizures in systemic lupus erythematosus: A scoping review.Seizure. 2021;86:161-167. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2021.02.021Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.Brandon TG, Manos CK, Xiao R, Ogdie A, Weiss PF.Pediatric psoriatic arthritis: A population-based cohort study of risk factors for onset and subsequent risk of inflammatory comorbidities.J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis. 2018;3(4):131-136. doi:10.1177/2475530318799072Schulert GS, Yasin S, Carey B, et al.Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated lung disease: Characterization and risk factors.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(11):1943-1954. doi:10.1002/art.41073National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.Woo YR, Park CJ, Kang H, Kim JE.The risk of systemic diseases in those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: From mechanisms to clinic.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(19):7041. doi:10.3390/ijms21197041National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sjögren’s syndrome.Fragkioudaki S, Mavragani CP, Moutsopoulos HM.Predicting the risk for lymphoma development in Sjogren syndrome: An easy tool for clinical use.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(25):e3766. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003766American College of Rheumatology.Sjögren’s syndrome.Sogkas G, Hirsch S, Olsson KM, et al.Lung involvement in primary Sjögren’s syndrome-an under-diagnosed entity.Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:332. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00332Moutasim KA, Shirlaw PJ, Escudier MP, Poate TW.Congenital heart block associated with Sjögren syndrome: Case report.Int Arch Med. 2009;2(1):21. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-2-21
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis and rheumatic diseases.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Osteoarthritis.Kim JW, Suh CH.Systemic manifestations and complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(6):2008. doi:10.3390/jcm9062008Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD, Tanasescu R.Extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Maedica (Bucur). 2010;5(4):286–91.Deane KD, Demoruelle MK, Kelmenson LB, Kuhn KA, Norris JM, Holers VM.Genetic and environmental risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2017;31(1):3-18. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2017.08.003Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.When it’s time to see a doctor for joint pain.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms.Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.How lupus affects the immune system.National Resource Center on Lupus.Lupus symptoms.Lupus Foundation of America.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?.American Kidney Fund.Lupus nephritis: Symptoms, treatment and complications.Nikolopoulos D, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT.Cerebrovascular events in systemic lupus erythematosus: Diagnosis and management.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2019;30(1):7-15. doi:10.31138/mjr.30.1.7Rodriguez-Hernandez A, Ortiz-Orendain J, Alvarez-Palazuelos LE, Gonzalez-Lopez L, Gamez-Nava JI, Zavala-Cerna MG.Seizures in systemic lupus erythematosus: A scoping review.Seizure. 2021;86:161-167. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2021.02.021Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.Brandon TG, Manos CK, Xiao R, Ogdie A, Weiss PF.Pediatric psoriatic arthritis: A population-based cohort study of risk factors for onset and subsequent risk of inflammatory comorbidities.J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis. 2018;3(4):131-136. doi:10.1177/2475530318799072Schulert GS, Yasin S, Carey B, et al.Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated lung disease: Characterization and risk factors.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(11):1943-1954. doi:10.1002/art.41073National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.Woo YR, Park CJ, Kang H, Kim JE.The risk of systemic diseases in those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: From mechanisms to clinic.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(19):7041. doi:10.3390/ijms21197041National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sjögren’s syndrome.Fragkioudaki S, Mavragani CP, Moutsopoulos HM.Predicting the risk for lymphoma development in Sjogren syndrome: An easy tool for clinical use.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(25):e3766. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003766American College of Rheumatology.Sjögren’s syndrome.Sogkas G, Hirsch S, Olsson KM, et al.Lung involvement in primary Sjögren’s syndrome-an under-diagnosed entity.Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:332. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00332Moutasim KA, Shirlaw PJ, Escudier MP, Poate TW.Congenital heart block associated with Sjögren syndrome: Case report.Int Arch Med. 2009;2(1):21. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-2-21
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Osteoarthritis.
Kim JW, Suh CH.Systemic manifestations and complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Clin Med. 2020;9(6):2008. doi:10.3390/jcm9062008
Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD, Tanasescu R.Extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Maedica (Bucur). 2010;5(4):286–91.
Deane KD, Demoruelle MK, Kelmenson LB, Kuhn KA, Norris JM, Holers VM.Genetic and environmental risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2017;31(1):3-18. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2017.08.003
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.When it’s time to see a doctor for joint pain.
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.How lupus affects the immune system.
National Resource Center on Lupus.Lupus symptoms.
Lupus Foundation of America.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?.
American Kidney Fund.Lupus nephritis: Symptoms, treatment and complications.
Nikolopoulos D, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT.Cerebrovascular events in systemic lupus erythematosus: Diagnosis and management.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2019;30(1):7-15. doi:10.31138/mjr.30.1.7
Rodriguez-Hernandez A, Ortiz-Orendain J, Alvarez-Palazuelos LE, Gonzalez-Lopez L, Gamez-Nava JI, Zavala-Cerna MG.Seizures in systemic lupus erythematosus: A scoping review.Seizure. 2021;86:161-167. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2021.02.021
Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.
Brandon TG, Manos CK, Xiao R, Ogdie A, Weiss PF.Pediatric psoriatic arthritis: A population-based cohort study of risk factors for onset and subsequent risk of inflammatory comorbidities.J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis. 2018;3(4):131-136. doi:10.1177/2475530318799072
Schulert GS, Yasin S, Carey B, et al.Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated lung disease: Characterization and risk factors.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(11):1943-1954. doi:10.1002/art.41073
National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.
Woo YR, Park CJ, Kang H, Kim JE.The risk of systemic diseases in those with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: From mechanisms to clinic.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(19):7041. doi:10.3390/ijms21197041
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sjögren’s syndrome.
Fragkioudaki S, Mavragani CP, Moutsopoulos HM.Predicting the risk for lymphoma development in Sjogren syndrome: An easy tool for clinical use.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(25):e3766. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003766
American College of Rheumatology.Sjögren’s syndrome.
Sogkas G, Hirsch S, Olsson KM, et al.Lung involvement in primary Sjögren’s syndrome-an under-diagnosed entity.Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:332. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00332
Moutasim KA, Shirlaw PJ, Escudier MP, Poate TW.Congenital heart block associated with Sjögren syndrome: Case report.Int Arch Med. 2009;2(1):21. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-2-21
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
