Ask the Doctor Q&A: Allergies and Arthritis
Question:
Is arthritis related to allergies?
Answer:
Most doctors do not believe that arthritis is related to allergies.
An allergic reaction is a reaction (or overreaction) of the body's immune system to a usually harmless foreign substance known as an allergen. Allergies are caused by the activation of a blood antibody class called immunoglobulin E.
Common allergens include pollens, grasses, bee venom, medications and certain foods such as peanuts and eggs. Allergens trigger reactions in susceptible people. These reactions are usually mild, but they can be severe, or even fatal. Common symptoms include a runny nose, itchy eyes or rashes. Sometimes people have difficulty breathing.
People have long thought that some types of arthritis may be caused by an allergic response to something, perhaps to a certain food. This has never been proven. No form of arthritis in humans has been shown to be caused by an allergic reaction from the activation of immunoglobulin E.
Many Internet sites continue to claim that food allergies cause arthritis. They cite cases of arthritis patients who get better after stopping certain foods. This is not scientific evidence.
However, many types of arthritis are immune-related. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are thought to be "autoimmune" in nature. The immune system gets confused and attacks the body's cells, causing damage to joints (arthritis) and other organs. Arthritis is also seen in other "hypersensitivity" reactions and diseases including serum sickness, hypersensitivity vasculitis and cryoglobulinemia. These are rare disorders of the immune system.
- Added to Medpedia December 2008