What exactly is "Autoimmune Arthritis"?

For almost 2 years now I have been feeling terrible! Aching joints, malaise, severe swelling in hands, wrists, knees, ankles and feet. My new GP finally sent me to a rheumatologist for an evaluation. He did a very thorough exam and ordered a bunch of lab tests and x-rays. My lab results cam back as follows:

CRP Ultra Quant            Ref Range  0.0-6.0                My result: 17.4

Complement C3             Ref Range  97-189                My result: 183

Complement C4             Ref Range  15-47                  My result: 42

Sed Rate                       Ref Range   0-30                   My result: 17

Rheumatoid Factor, Scleroderma Ab, Sjorgen's Antibodies, Anti-SM/RNP, DNA double stranded, Histone Antibodies: All it says is NEGATIVE.

Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide            Ref Range <20         My result: 5

Vitamin D                      Ref Range 20-100                    My result: 17

Microalbumin Urine         Ref Range 0.0 - 2.1                   My result: 48.6 !

C Peptide (see if pancreas is working still) (I'm a Type 1 Diabetic)
Ref Range 1.1 - 4.4                My result: 0.9 ( poor little thing is worn out!)


I see that the CRP is high and that the Complement C3 and C4 are on the high side.

He said I have "Autoimmune Arthritis" and started me on Plaquenil 200 mg twice a day. Is this really RA? Or is there such a thing as  "Autoimmune Arthritis". I tried looking it up on the web but everything there says RA. My hands and fingers are so swollen and painful I can hardley type or use a pen some days and my feet and ankles are very very swollen and hurt also. Because of my diabetes he can't put me on Prednisone and he told me the Plaquenil will take 6-8 weeks to start working.

So question is what exactly is  "Autoimmune Arthritis"?

Thank you so much for responding!

Cathie

[spastic]

Hi Sweetie, I have been looking and looking for a logical explanation of autoimmune arthritis.  I would almost bet that most rheumys have a theory for this but I did find this sentence that makes a little sense.

"Autoimmune arthritis is triggered by a systemic self-reactivity but why joints are the main targets for the specific inflammatory lesions remains unclear."

I don't know if this helps, I'm sorry I've been MIA for awhile, trying to get back into gear.

Love,

Ada

[nanascraps]

I've been MIA also! Very busy here at work. I posted this thinking I was posting it on the part that you can ask a Dr. a question. Then it appeared on the board. Arrrggghh. Where did you find that sentence? Like I said everytime I try to look it up everything has to do with RA. Whatever it is seems to be getting worse. I have been on the Plaquenil for a month now and no improvement. If anything the swelling and stiffness is much much worse. I told my hubby that I really hopes it starts working soon because I don't want to go on Methotrexate. I have just read a lot of scary side effects about it and I'm not sure I want to go there yet. I see the rheumy again on the 7th of July. So I'll see what he thinks. I hope you are doing good! It is so stinking hot here!! Our high yesterday was 98 and down in Phoenix (100 miles south of us) it was 113.

[spastic]

Hey Sweetie, it was on a site called the-scientist, I put autoimmune arthritis in google search and it popped up with a bunch of RA sites and that little sentence jumped out at me.

I don't know if this is going to be one of those it gets worse before it gets better kind of things.  I don't know, Sweetie if this continues, I would call the rheumy and tell him your feeling so crummy.  I know Sue said it took her like 10 weeks I think of DMARD's to finally notice a difference.  I don't know much about Plaquenil, I'm still on the steroids, sweating like a pig.  It does help with the swelling though.

I am glad I am not in AZ right now!!!  I think I would melt in that heat.  I hope your air conditioning is good.  Its been between 85-90 here, the humidity is what gets me, I can hardly breath with the air so thick!!!

I will try to get a longer note to ya about that website.

Love,

Ada