A chronic and progressive disease in which the immune system attacks the joints. It is characterised by pain, inflammation and swelling of the joints, stiffness, weakness, loss of mobility and deformity. Tissues throughout the body can be affected, including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles
A generalized disease, occurring more often in women, which primarily affects connective tissue; arthritis is the dominant clinical manifestation, involving many joints, especially those of the hands and feet, accompanied by thickening of articular soft tissue, with extension of synovial tissue over articular cartilages, which become eroded; the course is variable but often is chronic and progressive, leading to deformities and disability
an inflammatory disease that involves the lining of the joint (synovium) The inflammation often affects the joints of the hands and the feet and tends to occur equally on both sides of the body
RA is a chronic disease of the joints and possibly other organs of the body, marked by stiffness and inflammation of the joints, loss of mobility and deformity RA is a result of connective tissue destruction when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues
a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
An abnormality in the immune system causing inflammation of the lining in the joints and/or internal organs Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the same joints on both sides of the body and can affect the hands, wrists, feet, knees, ankles, shoulders, neck, jaw, and elbows The disease may also cause inflammation of internal organs, leading to significant organ damage Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are likely to experience times when they have few symptoms and other times when they have very severe symptoms causing significant limitations
A chronic, inflammatory disease of the body where a person's own immune system attacks cells inside the joint capsule; producing its most prominent manifestations in joints, often leading to joint pain, stiffness, and deformity
involves inflammation in the lining of the joints and/or other internal organs Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects many different joints It can be chronic, which means it lasts a long time, and can be a disease of flares (active) and remissions (little to no activity) Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is one of the most common forms of arthritis It is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling The inflamed joint lining, the synovium, can invade and damage bone and cartilage Inflammatory cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage The involved joint can lose its shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement
A crippling form of arthritis believed to result from an autoimmune process, usually attacking the small joints of the hands, feet, wrists, knees, ankles, and neck
An inflammatory disease that affects the facet joints in the spine as well as other joints in the body including the hands, elbows, shoulders, fingers and toes
Chronic disease of the joints marked by inflammatory changes in the joint-lining membranes, which may give positive results on tests of rheumatoid factor & ANA
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-lasting disease that causes your joints, for example your hands or knees, to swell up and become painful. n. A chronic disease marked by stiffness and inflammation of the joints, weakness, loss of mobility, and deformity. a disease that continues for many years and makes your joints painful and stiff, and often makes them lose their proper shape. Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course. It usually starts gradually, with pain and stiffness in one or more joints, then swelling and heat. Muscle pain may persist, worsen, or subside. Membrane inflammation and thickening scars joint structures and destroys cartilage. In severe cases, adhesions immobilize and deform the joints, and adjacent skin, bones, and muscles atrophy. If high-dose aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs do not relieve pain and disability, low-dose corticosteroids may be tried. Physical medicine and rehabilitation with heat and then range-of-motion exercises reduce pain and swelling. Orthopedic appliances correct or prevent gross deformity and malfunction. Surgery can replace destroyed hip, knee, or finger joints with prostheses. There is also a juvenile form of the disease
A disease of the connective tissues that usually appears in the form of painful swelling in the joints of the hands and feet Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often worsens over time, causing joint deformities and disability
Chronic, progressive disease in which inflammatory changes occur throughout the connective tissue of the body Most characteristically the process attacks joints of the hands, feet, wrists, knees, hips, or shoulders
A systemic (affecting the whole body) form of arthritis believed to stem from an abnormality in the immune system Characterized by inflammation of the joints and other symptoms Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is not caused by wear and tear on the joint cartilage