Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that not only affects the joints but can also cause damage to a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory arthritis and extra-articular involvement. This condition is often the result of the interaction between genetics and environmental factors, such as tobacco, and primarily involves synovial joints.
The major clinical features of RA, including articular manifestations, are reviewed here, along with the systemic and extraarticular features. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of RA are discussed in detail in separate articles. RA can occur at any age, but the likelihood increases with age, with the highest onset among adults in their sixties. Women are two to three times more likely to develop RA than men.
The hallmark of RA is persistent symmetric polyarthritis (synovitis) that commonly affects the hands and feet, though any joint lined by a synovial membrane may be involved. The pathophysiology of RA involves damage mediated by cytokines, chemokines, and metalloproteases. Understanding the clinical features, extraarticular manifestations, and laboratory markers is crucial for the diagnosis of RA.
Rheumatoid arthritis is defined as a systemic autoimmune pathology associated with a chronic inflammatory process that can damage both joints and extra-articular organs, including the heart, kidney, lung, digestive system, eye, skin, and nervous system. Different types of arthritis have been researched to classify them into non-inflammatory and inflammatory categories, with RA being a primary example of the latter.
For more in-depth information on RA, the following resources provide comprehensive insights:
Mayo Clinic
StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
UpToDate
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
UpToDate
Medscape
MSD Manuals
PMC
These resources provide a well-rounded picture of RA, its symptoms, progression, and treatment options.
