Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Overview

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joint capsule (synovium). RA is a serious and often disabling condition that can cause chronic pain, permanent joint damage, and loss of joint function. Some research indicates that, instead of a single condition, rheumatoid arthritis may in fact be a group of different diseases that have several common features.

The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells (e.g., leukocytes, lymphocytes, phagocytes, B cells, CD8+ cells), and proteins that protects the body from disease and illness. It attacks foreign organisms (e.g., germs), identifies and destroys abnormal cells, and flushes dead and damaged cells out of the body. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks normal cells in the body, causing damage and inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis progresses in 3 stages. The first stage of the disease involves inflammation in the lining of the joint (synovium), which causes mild-to-moderate pain, warmth, redness, and stiffness in and around the joint.

In the second stage of RA, rapid cell division and growth occurs in the synovium (called pannus), causing thickening within the joint.

The third stage involves the release of enzymes (proteins that affect chemical reactions) that digest cartilage and bone within the joint, causing the joint to become misshapen and misaligned. This stage results in pain, which can be severe, and loss of joint movement.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a multisystemic disease, which means that in addition to the joints, it also can affect a number of organs in the body (e.g., skin, eyes, heart, lungs).

Incidence and Prevalence
According to the Arthritis Foundation, RA is the second most common type of arthritis. It affects approximately 2.1 million people in the United States, and about 70% of patients who have the disease are women. Rheumatoid arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can occur at any age.

Rheumatoid arthritis also affects men and children (called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) and the disease often is more severe in men. In women who are of childbearing age, RA often goes into remission (i.e., symptoms improve significantly) during pregnancy, but symptoms may increase in severity after the patient gives birth.

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