Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease primarily involving the joints. It’s characterized by damage mediated by cytokines, chemokines, and metalloproteases. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues. It’s a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Interestingly, in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, accumulating evidence suggests that anti-CCP antibodies appear long before any signs of inflammation.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis can be challenging in its early stages, as early signs and symptoms often mimic those of many other diseases. There is no single blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis. During the physical exam, doctors check for swelling, redness, and warmth in the joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the joints. This inflammation can be so severe that it affects how the joints and other parts of the body look and function. In the hand, RA may cause deformities in the joints of the fingers, making moving your hands difficult.
For more detailed information on Rheumatoid Arthritis, visit these resources:
Merck Manuals on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Mayo Clinic on Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms and Causes
Mayo Clinic on Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diagnosis and Treatment
Johns Hopkins Medicine on Rheumatoid Arthritis
Mayo Clinic on Arthritis: Symptoms and Causes
CDC on Rheumatoid Arthritis
OrthoInfo – AAOS on Rheumatoid Arthritis
