The early undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis that Garret Anderson was diagnosed with Wednesday could have been a precursor to the potentially debilitating condition known as rheumatoid arthritis or any one of the dozen or so chronic arthritic illnesses.

Over the next few weeks, Anderson met with a number of specialists in the fields of rheumatology, neurology and orthopedics, but without a diagnosis, Anderson, his teammates, Angel coaches and front-office executives were baffled and frustrated by his ailment.

Whether Anderson's condition has been caused by a virus or is the beginning of chronic arthritis also will determine the course of treatment, [Rodney Bluestone] said, but the source of Anderson's illness has not yet been determined.