arthropathy

noun

ar·​throp·​a·​thy är-ˈthrä-pə-thē 

plural arthropathies

: a disease of a joint

Examples of arthropathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most common inflammatory arthropathies are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, but systemic lupus may also cause inflammation. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023

Gout and pseudogout are the crystal arthropathies, meaning that the joints become inflamed because crystals form inside the joint. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023

In one case, prosecutors wrote, Mathieu billed Medicare $125 for a visit to a patient whose paperwork said the patient had arthropathy, peripheral neuropathy and low vision. —Laura McKnight, NOLA.com, 30 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French arthropathie, from arthro- arthro- + -pathie -pathy

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

arthropathy

noun

ar·​throp·​a·​thy är-ˈthräp-ə-thē 

plural arthropathies

: a disease of a joint

These joint hemorrhages culminate in a severe arthropathy, with signs of inflammation (as in rheumatoid arthritis) as well as degenerative damage (as in osteoarthritis).

—Goris Roosendaal and Floris Lafeber, The New England Journal of Medicine

The most common problem found is known as facet joint arthropathy, which can cause severe back pain.

—Eric Nagourney, The New York Times

arthropathic

ˌär-thrə-ˈpa-thik 

adjective

arthropathic changes

an arthropathic knee