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Noun: atrophic arthritis  u'tró-fik aa(r)'thrI-tus
  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
    "The patient's atrophic arthritis caused severe pain and swelling in her hands";
    - rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism

Type of: arthritis, autoimmune disease, autoimmune disorder