Dr. Douglas Brum
Idiopathic immune-mediated polyarthritis is caused by an abnormal immune system response. The joints of one, or typically, multiple joints are identified as abnormal and an inflammatory reaction occurs with increased numbers of white blood cells
Dr. Douglas Brum
Idiopathic immune-mediated polyarthritis is caused by an abnormal immune system response. The joints of one, or typically, multiple joints are identified as abnormal and an inflammatory reaction occurs with increased numbers of white blood cells entering the joint space. The white blood cells, themselves, release various chemical mediators that create further swelling and inflammation. Joint pain and many times fever are noted due to the inflammatory response. An obvious swelling in the joints may or may not be noted. If joint swelling is not present, the diagnosis may be quite difficult to establish. Trauma. A traumatic injury to a joint usually causes an acute joint swelling and lameness. The injury may be a soft tissue injury with joint swelling which results in inflammation or bleeding into the joint. Fractures of the bones involving the joint can also lead to severe joint effusion and pain.
There are no consistent signs of the disease and many of the signs are fairly general and may be seen with many other conditions. Animals with this disease generally feel ill and reluctant to move, which may be interpreted as lethargy rather than joint pain or stiffness. Sometimes the only noted clinical problem is a fever of unknown