Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs.
Alternative Names
RA; Arthritis - rheumatoid
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The cause of RA is unknown. It is considered an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system normally fights off foreign substances, like viruses. But in an autoimmune disease, the immune system confuses healthy tissue for foreign substances. As a result, the body attacks itself.
RA can occur at any age. Women are affected more often than men.
RA usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most commonly affected. The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably. Infection, genes, and hormones may contribute to the disease.
Symptoms
The disease usually begins gradually with:
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Morning stiffness (lasting more than 1 hour)
Widespread muscle aches
Weakness
Eventually, joint pain appears. When the joint is not used for a while, it can become warm, tender, and stiff.
Psoriatic arthritis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Psoriatic arthritis is an arthritis that is often associated with psoriasis of the skin.Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin condition that causes red patches on the body. About 1 in 20 people with psoriasis will develop arthritis with the skin con...Reviewer: Mark James Borigini, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/31/2009
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(JRA) is a term used to describe a common type of arthritis in children. It is a long-term(chronic) disease resulting in joint pain and swelling.Juvenile chronic polyarthritis; JRA; Still''s disease; Juvenile idiopathic...Reviewer: Mark James Borigini, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/31/2009
Arthritis (9 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.Reviewer: Ariel D. Teitel, MD, MBA, Chief, Division of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by Verimed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/10/2009
Rheumatoid lung disease (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Rheumatoid lung disease is a group of lung problems related to rheumatoid arthritis. The condition can include fluid in the chest( pleural effusions), scarring( pulmonary fibrosis), lumps(nodules), and high blood pressure in the lungs(pulmonary hy...Reviewer: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 03/13/2007
Caplan syndrome (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Caplan syndrome is swelling(inflammation) and scarring of the lungs in people with rheumatoid arthritis who have been exposed to mining dust, such as coal, silica, or asbestos.Caplan syndrome is caused by breathing in mining dust, which causes inf...Reviewer: David A. Kaufman, MD, Section Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital-Yale New Haven Health System, and Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/16/2009
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