Asheville Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center is a full-service rheumatology practice caring for adults and children with arthritis, osteoporosis, and systemic autoimmune diseases and rheumatic diseases. Services available include: a certified laboratory; radiology including digital x-ray, ultrasound, and bone density testing; and an infusion center for treatment of autoimmune disease and osteoporosis.
Systemic autoimmune and rheumatic diseases are conditions that occur when the immune system sends inflammation to areas of the body when it is not needed. This inappropriate inflammation causes symptoms and damage. These diseases can affect the joints, muscles, and bones causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. These diseases can also affect the eyes, skin, nervous system, and all other internal organs. Educational materials about conditions we treat are available here.
Inflammation of the joints (arthritis) is a major symptom of many of these disorders, but all other organ systems (such as muscles, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, and skin) can be involved. Several of these diseases, such as gout and infectious arthritis, are well understood and the treatment is straightforward. Others, which involve alterations of the body’s immune system, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, are less well understood and more difficult to treat.
