About Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks joints.1,2  It is a systemic disease which means that it can affect the whole body and internal organs, but most typically, rheumatoid arthritis affects the hands, wrists and feet as well as knees, hips and shoulders.1,2

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is known as a progressive disease: over time, the destruction of tendons, ligaments and bone in joints gets worse, leading to pain.1 If left uncontrolled, RA will cause irreversible damage to joints in the majority of patients. The disease can affect the ability to complete everyday tasks such as cooking and gardening and depending on the amount and level of joint destruction, can cause severe disability and loss of independence in some cases. The rate at which the disease progresses varies from person to person.2

In addition to joint swelling and stiffness, people with Rheumatoid Arthritis can also experience tiredness, fever and weight loss.1 People with RA are also at increased risk of premature death,3 coronary artery disease 4 and infection.5 


What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The cause of  rheumatoid arthritis is unknown,1 however it is thought that genetics play a role. For example, people with the gene HLA-DR seem to be more susceptible to the disease than others.1

More women than men suffer from RA suggesting that hormones specific to women influence disease progression.  Environmental factors also play a part in the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Risk factors include smoking and infection with certain bacteria or viruses.2


How is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) diagnosed?

The doctor making the diagnosis will look for a number of aspects in order to make a diagnosis.  Most people with RA present at their doctor with swollen and/or painful joints, with complaints of flu-like symptoms and morning stiffness plus joint swelling in one or more joints, usually in the hands and feet. The swelling (synovitis) is said to be symmetrical but usually the dominant hand is more severely affected.

The most important symptom that aids the diagnosis is change in a person’s ability to use his or her hands while completing day-to-day activities. For example, buttons can become impossible to fasten and it becomes more difficult to hold household items such as cups.2

This information is provided as a helpful resource; it is not intended to replace medical advice.

 

References:

  1. Lee DM, Weinblatt ME. Rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2001;358:903-911
  2. National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Accessed April 2010 http://www.nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoid_arthritis/what_is_ra/what_is_ra.aspx
  3. Weaver AL. The impact of new biologicals in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology. 2004;43(Suppl.3):iii17-iii23
  4. Callahan LF, Pincus T. Mortality in the rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Care Res. 1995;8:229-41
  5. Gabriel SE. The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2001;27:269-281