Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What is rheumatoid arthritis?
• What causes rheumatoid arthritis?
• What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
• How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?
• How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?
• "First-line" drugs
• "Second-line" or "slow-acting" drugs
• Newer treatments
• Other treatments
• Future treatments
• Rheumatoid Arthritis At A Glance
• Related Rheumatoid Arthritis articles:
  Rheumatoid Arthritis - on WebMD
  Rheumatoid Arthritis - on eMedicineHealth

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.

While rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, meaning it can last for years, patients may experience long periods without symptoms. Typically, however, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive illness that has the potential to cause joint destruction and functional disability.

A joint is where two bones meet to allow movement of body parts. Arthritis means joint inflammation. The joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and redness in the joints. The inflammation of rheumatoid disease can also occur in tissues around the joints, such as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

In some patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation leads to the destruction of the cartilage, bone, and ligaments, causing deformity of the joints. Damage to the joints can occur early in the disease and be progressive. Moreover, studies have shown that the progressive damage to the joints does not necessarily correlate with the degree of pain, stiffness, or swelling present in the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, affecting approximately 1.3 million people in the United States, according to current census data. The disease is three times more common in women as in men. It afflicts people of all races equally. The disease can begin at any age, but it most often starts after age 40 and before 60. In some families, multiple members can be affected, suggesting a genetic basis for the disorder.

Next: What causes rheumatoid arthritis? »