| Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be defined as a | | | | vary a lot. |
| multisystem chronic disease of unknown origin. There | | | | Some patients can experience a mere oligoarticular |
| is an array of systemic expression; the main | | | | ailment (involving a single joint) of short duration with |
| distinguishing feature of rheumatoid arthritis is chronic | | | | minimal or no joint damage, while others may suffer |
| inflammatory synovitis, typically symmetrically involving | | | | from a persistent progressive polyarthritis with striking |
| peripheral joints. | | | | functional impairment. |
| The likely influence of inflammation of the synovium | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis has very common symptoms [ |
| leading to damage of the articular cartilage and erosion | | | | and according to a survey, it has affected more than |
| of the involving bones and consequent changes in the | | | | two million people in the United States. |
| integrity of the joint is the characteristic of the disease. | | | | The disease is almost three times more common in |
| RA also involves the tissues around the joint as well | | | | women than in men and affects people of all races |
| as different organs in our body. | | | | uniformly. The onset of the disease can be at any age, |
| Characteristically, Rheumatoid arthritis is an | | | | but the usual point of time is after forty years of age. |
| autoimmune disorder, which occurs when the body's | | | | Being a genetically determined disease, |
| own defense mechanism wrongly interprets some | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis can affect multiple members in the |
| bodily character and mistakenly attacks them. | | | | same family. As for example, severe RA is noticed in |
| The immune system is a multifaceted association of | | | | approximately four times the usual rate among the first |
| different protective cells and antibodies programmed | | | | degree relatives of persons suffering from the disease |
| normally to 'seek and destroy' the intruders into our | | | | in conjunction with presence of autoantibody - the |
| body. The main role playing of the immune system | | | | Rheumatic factor- more than 10% of patients with RA |
| occurs when an infective agent invades our system. | | | | will have an affected first degree relative. |
| Patients having deranged immunity or autoimmune | | | | In addition, monozygotic twins are at least four times |
| disorder produce antibodies (some proteins that have | | | | more likely to develop RA than dizygotic twins. This is |
| a killer potentiality towards intruders) in the blood that | | | | to be noted that, the highest risk of association id |
| targets their own body parts, leading to inflammation. | | | | noted in twins who possess two HLA-DRB1 alleles (a |
| As rheumatoid arthritis can affect numerous other | | | | type of genes) which is identified to be closely linked |
| organs in our body, it is referred as a systemic | | | | with RA. Genetic predisposing factors do not entirely |
| disease. | | | | account for the occurrence of RA, pointing towards |
| The word "Rheumatoid" is coined from the Greek | | | | some other factors. Environmental factors have a role |
| word "Rheumatos" which means 'Flowing' and the | | | | playing action in the development of RA. |
| suffix "oid" refers to 'resembling'. The word "Arthritis" | | | | This is highlighted by epidemiological studies conducted |
| means 'inflammation of a joint'. So, together they mean | | | | in AFRICA, that indicated the role of urbanization and |
| 'inflammation of a joint that is flowing in nature'. In spite | | | | climate have a major impact over the occurrence and |
| of its harsh potential, the course of the disease can | | | | severity of RA. |