| Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common | | | | factor a patient presents with may indicate the type of |
| inflammatory form of arthritis. It is characterized by | | | | course they will experience with their disease. The |
| inflammation of the synovial (joint) lining of multiple | | | | amount of rheumatoid factor also seems to correlate |
| joints, usually presenting in a symmetric manner | | | | with disease severity. |
| (meaning one side is like the other). | | | | The three abnormal factors that seem to be |
| Early on, small joints such as the hands, wrists, ankles, | | | | associated with the development of RA are an |
| and feet are involved. As the disease progresses, | | | | environmental trigger (the exact trigger is still unknown), |
| larger joints also are affected. Virtually, any joint can | | | | genetic predisposition, and a hyper normal immune |
| be involved. | | | | response. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is an acquired autoimmune | | | | RA affects about 1-2% of the population (2 million |
| disease with a genetic predisposition. About 70% of | | | | people) with a female to male ratio of about 3:1. |
| patients have the genetic markers, HLA-DR4 or | | | | Mortality in patients with RA is increased compared |
| HLA-DR1. | | | | with the general population. Life expectancy is reduced |
| Rheumatoid factors, which are antibodies to IgG, occur | | | | about 7 years in men and 4 years in women. |
| in 60-80% of adult RA patients. The level of | | | | The economic impact is staggering! Direct costs are |
| rheumatoid factor in the blood seems to correlate with | | | | $14 billion per year in the United States. After 5 years |
| prognosis. it is now clear that rheumatoid factors exist | | | | of disease, 27% of people are disabled. After 10 years |
| in multiple forms and that the type of rheumatoid | | | | between 40 to 60% of people are disabled. |