| Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory | | | | Atherosclerosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. |
| form of arthritis and affects approximately two million | | | | Annals Int Med 2006; 144: 249-256) |
| Americans. It is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune | | | | A sidebar to this is the eye involvement that can |
| diseases are characterized by abnormal function of | | | | occur. Inflammation of the sclera- the white part of the |
| the immune system. For whatever reason (and that | | | | eye- can lead to blindness as a result of perforation or |
| reason is still unknown), the immune system attacks | | | | hemorrhage. |
| healthy tissue. In rheumatoid arthritis, joint tissues such | | | | An interesting side light to this is that several studies |
| as ligaments, tendons, and muscles, are attacked and | | | | provide evidence that long-term smoking contributes to |
| become inflamed. Symptoms that develop include | | | | the immune system's malfunctioning. This most likely |
| painful, swollen, tender joints. The small joints in the | | | | explains why smoking is associated with increased |
| hands and feet are the most commonly affected. | | | | severity of the disease. This is also why smoking and |
| Other prominent symptoms include fatigue and | | | | rheumatoid arthritis make a terrible combination. |
| stiffness. | | | | Smoking causes premature atherosclerosis and |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease meaning it | | | | rheumatoid arthritis does also. |
| attacks many different organ systems. One organ | | | | If untreated, rheumatoid arthritis significantly shortens |
| system that can be affected are the blood vessels. | | | | life span by an average seven to eight years. It |
| This inflammation of blood vessels is called vasculitis. It | | | | increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Sixty |
| is especially dangerous because vessels carry blood | | | | percent of untreated patients are disabled and |
| throughout the body: to the brain, lungs, skin, kidneys, | | | | dependent on others to take care of them within 10 |
| and heart. "Shutdown" of organs occurs. Why? As the | | | | years. |
| inflammation of the blood vessels progresses, the | | | | One other factor that contributes to the shortened |
| blood vessels are no longer able to transport blood. | | | | lifespan is the increased incidence of lymphoma that |
| Vasculitis due to rheumatoid arthritis can lead to heart | | | | occurs in patients with RA. |
| attack and stroke. (Roman MJ, et al. Preclinical Carotid | | | | |