Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sep 2, 2010; 2:24 PM ET
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease which manifests itself in multiple joints of the body. The inflammatory process primarily affects the lining of the joints (synovial membrane), but can also affect other organs. The inflamed synovium leads to erosions of the cartilage and bone and sometimes joint deformity. Pain, swelling, and redness are common joint manifestations. Although the definitive causes are unknown, RA is believed to be the result of a faulty immune response. RA can begin at any age and is associated with fatigue and prolonged stiffness after rest. There is no cure for RA, but new drugs are increasingly available to treat the disease. In addition to medications and surgery, good self-management, including exercise, are known to reduce pain and disability.
I. Background
* Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition, is a chronic inflammatory polyarthritis.
* Natural history studies of RA suggests that RA follows one of three courses
- Monocyclic in 20% of people initially diagnosed with RA (i.e., had one episode which abated within two years of initial presentation and did not reoccur).
- Polycyclic in 70% (i.e., fluctuating levels of disease activity).
- Progressive and unremitting condition in 10%.
Another natural history study found that 75% of people with RA experienced remission after five years.
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