Infliximab

Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. RA is a progressive and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder that affects the joints symmetrically, causing a range of systemic effects. What it causes is still not well known; nevertheless, findings of new research points towards a believe that it is triggered by a defective immune system, which causes the release of inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals cause damage to cartilage and bone, usually affecting the wrists, the joints of the hand, including the knuckles, the middle joints of the fingers and feet. While this condition can affect any joints, besides, important body organs such as the eyes and the lungs can also be affected by the inflammation that occurs as a result of this chronic condition. Only in America 1.3 million of people are affected by this ailment, and 75 % of them are mainly women. Its onset usually occurs between fourth and sixth decades; however, RA can occur at any age("Diseases And

The type of treatment chosen depends on the type of arthritis and the effects it has on the patient as well as the severity of the disease. Other factors to consider are the age of the patient and the joints affected. Bearing in mind that different people exhibit different reactions to different medications, treatment in this case is individualized but includes a combination of joint protection methods and medication. For rheumatoid arthritis, the Initial treatment starts with non steroidal ant inflammatory drugs and other simple analgesic but as the inflammation progresses, slow acting anti rheumatoid drugs which are aimed at modifying the disease are introduced. They are added progressively as the inflammation progresses in order to suppress the process that leads to chronic inflammation (Amin 1995).

use are drugs. The drugs that are used, tend to ease the symptoms and slow R.A. activity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen sodium. These are the drugs that tend to ease the pain. Corticosteroids, disease- modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Biologics, and Jak inhibitors are drugs that tend slow R.A.s activity. Steroids and biologic agents such as Prednisone and adalimumab (Humira) are also recommended and used for people with R.A. All these different drugs are used to try and stop the progression of R.A. Most pharmaceuticals only reduce inflammation and pain. Although there isn't one particular drug at this point that can stop Rheumatoid Arthritis, drugs such as Ibuprofen do help and are considered the top drug that is used to treat inflammation and pain for R.A.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease which causes inflammation on joints leading to disability. The deterioration is caused by constant attack in the synovium leading to synovial cells to a rough and grainy tissue eventually allowing the bones to crumble away. The disease currently has no cure and scientists are thriving to find a target specifically aiming at the bones.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease. The disease happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks a healthy tissue as if it was a foreign invader, such as a virus or bacteria. If left untreated it can lead to permanent joint damage, decrease in quality of life, and total disability. It affects over a million people in the U.S. alone. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include persistent joint inflammation which causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Fatigue and stiffness are usually early symptoms. Joint pain can be an early symptom in a variety of diseases. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often develop slowly over a period of weeks or longer, but this is not always the case, it can have an acute

To help with inflammation, there are steroids like prednisone and hydroxychloroquine (Arthritisorg, 2015). Another drug to help with inflammation is the Disease- Modifying Antirhelumatic Drug. Some NSAID medicines to help with the pain are ibuprofen and aspirin (Mayoclinicorg, 2015). At home, some remedies can be putting hot and cold bags on the swelling, doing yoga, and doing physical therapy. A additional way is surgery, but there is no guaranteed the disorder is gone (Arthritisorg, 2015). With all these remedies, there is still no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. In fact, the disease may last for years or a lifetime (Mayoclinicorg,

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease that is systemic in nature but primarily targets and damages the synovial joints. It is characterized by painful, swollen, stiff joints, which manifest primarily in the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. RA is more common among women than men and increases in prevalence with age, however it can also occur in young adults and children (Lee & Weinblatt, 2001).

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder. There are more than 100 different types of Arthritis, yet it is estimated that it affects approximately 1% of the population in the Western World. The disease is generally diagnosed in middle aged adults and the elderly. In rarer cases, children can also develop the disease and it is called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Women are three times more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis than men. (Stevens) Many people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis appear to be healthy individuals, but suffer internally. Today, I will discuss what rheumatoid arthritis is, how it is diagnosed, and how it affects the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systematic inflammatory disease characterized by synovitis (constant inflammation of the synovial membranes) and autoantibodies. The disease that affects 0.5-1.0% of all adults in industrialized countries, mostly women and elderly people (Scott et al, 2010). In the United States, more than 1.5 million people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, making it one of the most common auto-immune disease (Carmona et al. 2010). According to the Arthritis Foundation, individuals who suffer from arthritis have to deal with joint pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, loss of appetite, depressive symptoms, and low-grade fever which can last a few days to weeks. Individuals with this disease tend to have a low-quality of life and difficulties with day-to-day activities.

Today in the United States there is an estimated 1.3 million people living and dealing with rheumatoid arthritis (Arthritis Foundation). One might ask, what exactly is rheumatoid arthritis? Well, rheumatoid arthritis, also commonly known as RA, is a form of inflammatory disease and an autoimmune disease. If the person is a minor, or below the age of six-teen, then the chronic disease can also go by the name of juvenile arthritis. The juvenile arthritis is, “Defined as chronic inflammation of the synovial joints, with unknown etiology, which starts before the age of sixteen and persists for at least six weeks” (Hink et al 1). This disease can affect anyone with a functioning immune system. Out of the 1.3 million people in the United States that have rheumatoid arthritis, 70% of that number is women (RA.com). Once again there are no certain reasons as to who receives this disease whether its children, elders, Caucasians, African Americans, etc. But once they do receive the illness, then it affects them immensely. “The disease is systemic, meaning it can occur throughout the whole body. It’s a chronic disease, so it can’t be cured” (Arthritis Foundation). The pain, stiffness and fatigue can affect the entire body. “RA occurs when your immune system, the system that protects your body from outside harm, mistakenly starts attacking healthy tissue” (RA.com). Rheumatoid arthritis is an incurable disease that is affecting

Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured, but there are treatments that help ease the symptoms, and help one cope with the disease. For example, a study on Tai chi has shown relief in rheumatoid arthritis patients (Uhlig 2010). Tai Chi program consists of improving muscle strength, balance, muscle tone, flexibility and mobility to the body. Therefore, doing exercise movements that are low in intensity, and not cause stress to the body. For example, stretches of muscles, extension, and flexion of knees, head, and neck (Uhlig 2010). Another treatment available is acupuncture which is part of the Chinese medicine. Acupuncture has shown to manipulate the pain by boosting natural pain killers in the body called endorphins ( Ratini 2015) Treatment and follow-up appointments are very important to help with the disease, and see if adjustments or changes need to make (Ruderman and Tambar 2010). Living with rheumatoid arthritis is possible with the right treatments and positive

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. normally the body’s immune system attacks and protects the body against foreign substance, with RA the immune system accidently attacks the joints. When the joints are mistakenly attacked inflammation occurs which causes the tissues to thicken thus resulting in pain and swelling of the joints. When this inflammation is undetected damage to the cartilage can occur, when this happens the spacing between the bones become smaller, the joints may become loose, painful, unstable and may also lose their mobility and deformity of the joints can occur.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the tissue that lines the inside of the joints (synovium). Over time cartilage and bone within the joint is destroyed and the joint spacing between bones become smaller. According to the text Understanding Pathophysiology by Huether and McCance cartilage damage in RA is the result of three processes: (1) neutrophils and other cells in the synovial fluid become activated, degrading the surface layer of articular cartilage; (2) cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), stimulate syntheses of preinflammatory compounds, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8), and cause the chondrocytes

The increase of macrophages and fibroblast synoviocytes results in hyperplasia of the lining. Enzymes that destroy and digest the extracellular matrix and articular structures such as metalloproteinase, serine proteases, and aggrecanase will be present in the joints. According to the American rheumatism association there are criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis, these are as follows: 1) morning stiffness in and around joints lasting at least 1 hour before maximal improvement; 2) soft tissue swelling (arthritis) of 3 or more joint areas observed by a physician; 3) swelling (arthritis) of the proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, or wrist joints; 4) symmetric swelling (arthritis); 5) rheumatoid nodules; 6) the presence of rheumatoid factor; and 7) radiographic erosions and/or periarticular osteopenia in hand and/or wrist joints (Arnett et al. 1988). As for treatment there is no cure but only reduction of symptoms. Analgesic drugs reduce pain, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) lessen pain and

In time, I discovered a constantly evolving field, one having made recent advances in biologic agents, thus opening up limitless opportunities for research. Moreover in managing side effects of immunosuppressants/biologic agents that are the mainstay of therapy in rheumatology produced its own set of challenges. These were but a few reasons why rheumatology held me