atrophic arthritis
n 1: a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the
joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus)
triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system,
which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory
reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components
of the joint [syn: {rheumatoid arthritis}, {atrophic
arthritis}, {rheumatism}]