RA is a disease that is often accompanied by a high Rheumatoid factor (RF), however a person can have RA with no RF at all. When this happens it is described as "seronegative rheumatoid arthritis".
RA is an autoimmune disease where the body's own immune system attacks tissue It can cause joint damage, chronic pain, loss of function and disability of joints.
This type of Arthritis is a long term chronic illness that can stay with people for many years or life.
Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of undetermined etiology involving primarily the synovial membranes and articular structures of multiple joints. The disease is often progressive and results in pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints. In late stages deformity and ankylosis develop.
The symptomsInvolving joints,d nerves and muscles of RA are as follows.
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Joint stiffness
Morning joint stiffness
Joint stiffness after inactivity
Joint tenderness
Warm joints
Ankle arthritis
Symmetrical joint pattern - both sides of the body afflicted.
Weight loss
Fatigue
Decreased appetite
Occasional fever
Bouts of mild fever
Episodic flares with remissions
Variable symptoms - different people experience different effects
Skin bumps (rheumatoid nodules) - about 25% of cases get these
Anemia
Neck pain
Dry eyes
Dry mouth
Tiredness
Afternoon fatigue
Joint involvement is typically polyarticular and symmetrical, (happens in more then one joint at a a time and often affects the same joints on opposite sides of the body.) usually sparing the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Joint involvement and inflammation is evinced by the following:
Edema
Effusion
Warmth
Tenderness to palpation
Destruction of joint in advanced stages
other symptoms may manifest themselves in the skin and other organs of the body.
Subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules,
Swan-neck deformities,
Boutonniere deformities,
Ulnar deviation of fingers at MCP joints in advanced stages.
RA a is a systemic disease, that means its inflammation can affect other organs and areas of the body. RA can cause Inflammation of the glands, eyes and mouth the result being dryness of these areas, This is known as Sjogren's syndrome. Rheumatoid inflammation can also lead to pain in the chest with deep breathing. this is the result of inflammation of the lung lining, pleuritis.it can also lead to shortness of breath, or coughing. Lung tissue becoming inflamed can lead to them being scarred and coughing. rheumatoid nodules can sometimes develop in the lungs. Inflammation of the tissue (pericardium) surrounding the heart, called pericarditis, can cause a chest pain that typically changes in intensity when lying down or leaning forward. RA can also lead to anemia. Decreased white cells can be associated with an enlarged spleen (referred to as Felty's syndrome) and can increase the risk of infections. Rheumatoid nodules can occur under the skin around the elbows and fingers where there is frequent pressure. Even though these nodules usually do not cause symptoms, occasionally they can become infected. Nerves can become pinched in the wrists to cause carpal tunnel syndrome. A rare, serious complication, usually with long-standing rheumatoid disease, is blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis). Vasculitis can impair blood supply to tissues and lead to tissue death (necrosis). This is most often initially visible as tiny black areas around the nail beds or as leg ulcers.
Arthritis or rheumatism
There are about a hundred different forms of arthritis The main ones being Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and Gout These are divided into inflammatory and non inflammatory forms of arthritis's and are referred to by their various names.
most forms of arthritis are chronic, this is particularly so in the case of inflammatory forms of arthritis like for example rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease
Rheumatoid arthritis.
No, Rheumatoid arthritis is not contagious.
There are over a hundred forms of arthritis but there is only one rheumatoid arthritis unless you also count juvenile RA as well.
Arthritis or rheumatism
There are about a hundred different forms of arthritis The main ones being Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and Gout These are divided into inflammatory and non inflammatory forms of arthritis's and are referred to by their various names.
The immune system can be the cause of many different forms of arthritis the main one being Rheumatoid arthritis.
most forms of arthritis are chronic, this is particularly so in the case of inflammatory forms of arthritis like for example rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Yes, you can actually be born with arthritis. Most of the people born with arthritis are born with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
No, Rheumatoid arthritis is not contagious.
there are over a hundred different forms of arthritis to chose from. however the main forms of arthritis are either osteo / degenerative arthritis, or Rheumatoid arthritis. If you feel that you are starting to have a problem with arthritis it is very important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible as either form especially rheumatoid can lead to serious damage if left untreated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in your joints. The main symptoms are joint pain and swelling. It‰Ûªs the second most common form of arthritis in North America. Research has given us a better understanding about the process of inflammation, and this has led to better forms of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
Yes, you can forms Rheumatoid arthritis for example can even be found among baby's
Rheumatoid arthritis is not a hereditary condition. While it is not passed down parents, certain genes that make you more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis are.