Rheumatoid Arthritis
Description
Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA or inflammatory arthritis, is a disease that attacks the joints, their surrounding tissues, and organs within the body. It causes the same pain from joint destruction that osteoarthritis produces, but by a different mechanism. Researchers believe RA is triggered by an autoimmune reaction, when certain cells within the body are mistakenly believed to be foreign and are directly attacked by the immune system. RA is a chronic condition; it slowly invades the joints throughout the body. However, symptoms may come and go, coming in waves of swelling and pain. Typical deformities can often be seen in other parts of the body, especially the hands.
Symptoms
- Red, swollen, painful joints—especially fingers, toes, hips, knees, ankles and wrists
- Morning stiffness lasting an hour or more
- Difficulty carrying out daily tasks, such as turning doorknobs or even walking, during flare-ups
- Thickening around joints
- Nodules under the skin, especially around elbow, on fingers (20%-40% of patients)- firm, but not painful
- General fatigue
Cause and Risk Factors
Causes
The exact cause is unknown. Researchers have speculated that Rheumatoid Arthritis is suspected to be autoimmune or may be set in motion by viral, fungal or bacterial infection, but no conclusive proof has emerged. Cigarette smoking seems to increase the risk of contracting the disease.Risk Factors
- Family history (of arthritis or autoimmune diseases)
- Genetic defects (autoimmune system)
- Female gender (usually between the ages of 20 to 50)
- Native American ethnicity
Treatment
Immediate Action
- Keep doing as much of your normal routine as possible.
- Start slowly and try to exercise more and more to keep your joints flexible and strong.
- Consult your doctor for recommended amount of exercise.
- Schedule daily rest periods and sleep well to keep from getting overtired.
- If the joint is not warm or swollen, use heat to relieve the pain. Hot soaks, heat lamps, or whirlpool treatments may help.
See your doctor If…
- You have the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
- You have a fever during treatment
- Symptoms appear in joints where you didn’t have them before
- Unexplained symptoms develop.
Procedures
If a doctor suspects a patient has rheumatoid arthritis, he will perform or order X-rays, a medical history, tests of synovial fluid (the lubricating fluid within joints), and a physical examination. Blood tests are the next step in diagnosing RA. Two antibodies within the blood, the "rheumatoid factor," and an "antinuclear antibody" (or ANA, for short), are found in many patients with RA. The rate at which red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube, known as the sedimentation rate or "sed rate," may also be noted. During flare-ups, the sed rate is faster than normal. As the disease attacks the joint, fluid injections, synovectomy, or total joint replacement may be needed to curb the pain associated with RA.Medications
Possible medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, (including aspirin and other salicilates); steroids; gold compounds; choloroquine or hydroxychloroquine; penicillamine; immunosuppressive drugs or cortisone injections.
Prevention
None known at this time. Protection and prevention are the mainstays of treatment.
Last updated: 26-Oct-01
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
Interact on Knee1 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Discuss this topic with others.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
