Which pattern is typical for inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis?

Which pattern is typical for inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis?

• A. Prolonged morning stiffness
• B. Short-term swelling
• C. Unilateral joint involvement
• D. Pain only at rest

Answer: (A)

Prolonged morning stiffness is a hallmark pattern of inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis. When the joints are inflamed, stiffness after waking lasts a long time—typically more than an hour—and gradually improves with gentle movement and activity as the day goes on. This reflects underlying synovial inflammation rather than wear-and-tear degeneration. Inflammatory arthritis also often presents with swelling in multiple joints that is symmetric and accompanied by warmth or systemic symptoms like fatigue. Patterns like stiffness that is only brief, swelling that comes and goes quickly, involvement limited to a single joint, or pain that occurs only at rest do not fit the typical inflammatory autoimmune picture as well.

Prolonged morning stiffness is a hallmark pattern of inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis. When the joints are inflamed, stiffness after waking lasts a long time—typically more than an hour—and gradually improves with gentle movement and activity as the day goes on. This reflects underlying synovial inflammation rather than wear-and-tear degeneration. Inflammatory arthritis also often presents with swelling in multiple joints that is symmetric and accompanied by warmth or systemic symptoms like fatigue.

Patterns like stiffness that is only brief, swelling that comes and goes quickly, involvement limited to a single joint, or pain that occurs only at rest do not fit the typical inflammatory autoimmune picture as well.