Autoimmune/Rheumatic

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just the joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. RA is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.

6

Symptoms

3

Causes

7

Treatments

2

Prevention

Condition Overview

Understand key symptoms, causes, diagnosis options, and treatment pathways for Rheumatoid Arthritis. This overview is intended for patient awareness and should be followed by specialist consultation.

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Symptoms

  • Tender, warm, swollen joints
  • Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
  • Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite
  • Symmetrical joint involvement
  • Rheumatoid nodules under the skin
  • Organ involvement (lungs, heart, eyes, blood vessels)

Causes

  • Autoimmune disease — immune attacks joint lining (synovium)
  • Genetic factors (HLA class II genotypes)
  • Environmental triggers (smoking, hormones, infections)

Diagnosis

  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests (RF, anti-CCP antibody, ESR, CRP)
  • X-rays
  • Ultrasound or MRI

Treatment

  • NSAIDs
  • Steroids
  • Conventional DMARDs (methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine)
  • Biologic DMARDs (TNF inhibitors, IL-6 inhibitors, B-cell/T-cell inhibitors)
  • Targeted synthetic DMARDs (JAK inhibitors)
  • Physical therapy
  • Surgery

Risk Factors

  • Female sex (2–3x more common)
  • Age 60+
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Family history
  • Early life exposures

Prevention

  • No proven prevention
  • Not smoking is the best-known modifiable risk factor

Prevalence

About 1.3 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis.