Research has demonstrated that many individuals with Crohnâs ileitis share a genetic mutation that may play a significant role in disease development. A hypersensitive immuno-response to a pathogenic presence, such as bacteria, within the gastrointestinal tract is also suspected of contributing to the disease's onset.
Secondary osteoarthritis occurs less frequently than primary (also known as idiopathic) osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis means that there is no known cause for the joint breakdown.
Primary osteoarthritis is typically diagnosed on the basis of clinical and radiographic imaging findings. Radiographic findings may be normal in the early stages of the disease, because cartilage is not directly visualized. Eventually, cartilage loss manifests as joint-space narrowing.