(Pannus can severely affect joints, causing swelling, pain, and Damage)
Pannus is common these days, and it can occur at any age, affecting our joints and causing swelling, pain, and Damage to other tissues. Usually, Pannus results from a type of Inflammatory disease that impacts joints, rheumatoid Arthritis. It typically develops in the later stages of rheumatoid Arthritis.
The person with Rheumatoid Arthritis has thicker grown Synovium (joint lining). This abnormal growth in the tissues is known as Pannus. This is the reason RA treatment has significantly risen in the past few years.
This article will provide an overview of Pannus, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
What is Pannus?
Pannus is an abnormal growth in the tissue of joints that affects the bone structure, cartridge, and other tissues. As a result of RA, our body’s immune system attacks our joints and causes abnormal growth in tissues known as the Pannus.
Pannus can be painful, affecting our body’s bones and connective tissue. The condition can spread to other parts of the body and cause heavy pain, inflammation, swelling, and bone deterioration. Synovium is a delicate membrane between joints that connects to cartilage, a soft, spongy material at the ends of your bones, to protect them.
In a healthy joint, Synovium lubricates the joint, supplies nutrients, and also forms collagen, the main structural protein in the body. But in people with RA, it starts to grow too much, thickening and spreading to other parts of the body where it shouldn’t. These extra growths of the tissues are referred to as the Pannus.
This type of extra growth is harmful to bones and causes stiff joints. It can damage the bone, cartilage, and other tissues without treatment. The growth of the tissues sometimes seems like a tumor. But Pannus is not cancer and can’t spread to other body parts.
Causes of Pannus:-
Pannus is caused by Rheumatoid arthritis, a type of autoimmune disease that affects the joints. Pannus seriously forms in your joints if you don’t take treatment for RA. The immune system cells of our body, like B-cells, T-cells, and lymphocytes, are blamed for the Pannus formation.
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Pannus can also be harmful for people suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, which causes long-term inflammation in the spine and sacroiliac joints. This condition can also lead to Pannus in the cervical spine, especially at the atlantoaxial joint.
Pannus Side Effects :-
Pannus can cause severe effects and damage to our bodies. Without treatment, it can lead to symptoms like:-
Pain,
Inflammation,
Joint swelling,
Damage in tissues,
Deformity,
Bone deterioration
How does Pannus form?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition where tissue growth is caused in joints. It happens when our body’s immune starts to misfire and attack joints. So, the first thing that comes to our attention is what causes Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Scientists explain the condition is caused when the body’s immune starts attacking the body. Our genes play a crucial role in how our body performs. But it doesn’t mean just because you have RA genes, you will get the disease. Certain other things in our environment can also lead to the disease. For example:- smoking can lead to RA. However, not all people who smoke develop RA. Some people. Develop RA without any genes and environmental factors.
When someone has RA, Their immune system leads to Hyperplasia of the Synovium. As a result, immune cells get activated and release the substances like cytokines and chemokines.
This pro-inflammatory environment stimulates new blood vessels to proliferate and accelerate tissue growth. The tissue starts thickening, and the synovium membrane takes over all space between your joints and bones. Pannus can be painful, affecting your bones seriously.
In the primary stages of RA, Pannus will grow into small joints like wrists, small joints, feet, and hands. But later, it can spread to the larger parts of the body, including the knees and shoulders.
Diagnosis of Pannus:-
Symptoms Pannus a lot seem like rheumatoid arthritis pain, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness in joints. Pannus pain can be severe. Hence, it should be treated at a tight time before it starts to affect the body’s other tissues. Pannus Swelling can change joint shape, causing deformity. However, with regular RA checkups, we can prevent the formation of Pannus that affects joints.
In the past, treatment of the Pannus was less prevalent than it is today. With recent advancements in early diagnosis, we can take rheumatoid arthritis treatment on time and reduce the formation of Pannus.
Doctors will diagnose the RA before it starts to form Pannus and any obvious harm in your joints and tissues. However, if someone has RA and their medications are not working. They could have Pannus formations in the joints. Hence, doctors take different tests like X-rays, MRI, and CT scans to ensure whether your joints are only swollen or if it’s really damaged. These pictures will clearly show if Pannus is formed in your joints.
