Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition characterized by the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking its own tissues, including joints and internal organs, leading to pain and swelling. The disease is known for its symmetric, polyarticular, chronic inflammatory nature, which results in joint destruction, deformity, and disability, with various clinical manifestations.
The classification criteria for RA have evolved over time, with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) revising these in 1987 and in collaboration with the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) presenting new criteria in 2010. This revision aimed to diagnose and classify RA at an earlier stage, thus potentially improving outcomes for patients.
However, the assumption that inflammation is the only cause of the complex clinical picture of RA has been contested. Research has identified three seemingly unrelated mechanisms that, when combined, can explain the general clinical picture of RA. This complexity is further compounded when considering conditions such as rheumatoid vasculitis (RV), an inflammatory process centered on blood vessel walls, occurring in patients with long-standing severe RA and associated with significant morbidity.
Furthermore, RA’s etiology remains unknown, with its basic pathological changes involving synovitis formation, leading to the destruction of articular cartilage and bone erosion, eventually causing joint deformity and various extra-articular manifestations.
This multifaceted disease also intersects with conditions like fibromyalgia, which can complicate the diagnosis and management due to overlapping symptoms, such as soft tissue pain, which is not inflammatory in nature.
Given the heterogeneity of its presentation, the question arises whether the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria still encompass the clinical picture of RA in its entirety. As research progresses and new findings emerge, the criteria for classifying RA may need to be re-evaluated to ensure they align with the current understanding of the disease.
To further understand RA, resources such as WebMD, Wiley Online Library, and PubMed provide valuable information on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. They also delve into the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of conditions like rheumatoid vasculitis, offering a comprehensive view on RA and its associated complications.
