League Against Rheumatism ( EULAR ) : A Case Study

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

Rheumatoid Arthritis has been subject of numerous studies and researches in the look for a better understanding of how it effects the individuals diagnosed with it. There is a higher incident of females diagnosed with RA than male as well as a relationship with genetic and environmental factors involved. Around one percent of the world population is affected by RA; therefore, diverse studies have been performed to understand how the lives of the diagnosed patients can be impacted by the disease. For example, how RA affects the mobility, safety and activities of daily living in general as well as the development of interventions to better approach RA. On

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. The prevalence of this autoimmune disease is between 0.3% to 1.5% of the population in the United States (Feinberg, pp 815). It affects women two to three times more often than men, and the onset of RA is usually between 25 and 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age (Reed, pp 584). RA can be diagnosed by establishing the presence of persistent joint pain, swelling in a symmetric distribution, and prolonged morning stiffness. RA usually affects multiple joints, such as the hands, wrists, knees, elbows, feet, shoulders, hips, and small

After this is done, they will perform lab work to make sure you may not have any other conditions. When performing the lab work, they will be testing for five things. If C-Reactive Proteins are detected, this indicates the sign of inflammation in the body. Your erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be checked, as with rheumatoid arthritis, this is generally raised. Your Rheumatoid Factor will be checked as well, because “about 75% of people with rheumatoid arthritis are RF positive” (RA 101). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide will be tested, as “About 98% of people with RA have these antibodies in their systems” (RA 101). And lastly, an antinuclear antibody test would be done to make sure you do not have a

If ones doctor suspects RA they may perform blood test to check for protein in the blood (This is present in about 2 in 3 people with RA. However, about 1 in 20 of the normal population has rheumatoid factor), and x-rays of the hands and feet may be done to detect any early deformations of the joints. If an individual’s doctor suspects that they may have RA, they usually will refer the patient to a rheumatologist who specialize in the joints and this type of disease. There is no cure for RA, but proper treatment for RA can make a big difference in reducing symptoms and to improve quality of life. Some of the main aims of treatment are: to decrease the disease from progressing to prevent joint damage, to reduce pain and stiffness in the affected joints, to minimize any disability caused by pain, joint damage, or deformities. A common medication prescribed for RA are disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine. This can be with medication such as steroids, NSAIDS, and often times will treat with pain killers because the pain is so intense. Eating a healthy diet and excising is always

RA is a mediated inflammatory process that triggers an autoimmune response. The result is in the production of antibodies and inflammatory cytokines that over time destroys bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels (Dewing, Setter, & Slusher, 2012). Although joints are the primary areas of destruction, the inflammatory process can also affect various organs, such as heart tissue including the heart values, visceral layers of the lung and brain, spleen, sclera and larynx (Dunphy, Windland-Brown, Porter, & Thomas 2011). If RA is not treated promptly or if the patient does not respond to treatment, irrevocable bone deformity, bone erosion and immobility is often the sequelae.

History of weight loss, anorexia and fever; swan neck deformity and boutonniere deformity and a decreased range of motion (Silvestri, 2013, p. 851). During an assessment for this type of disorder you can tell if there are any joint deformities such as subluxation also know as dislocation can occur as well. Warmth or swollen joints, limited movement of the joint or immovable joints also known as ankylosis. Skin may be reddened but does not apply to everyone who has RA (Rosdahl, 2012). Diagnostics to help determine this disorder would first be getting an x-ray done, a (ESR) erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be done to determine if there is any inflammation and in this case there would be an increase in the (ESR), also a (RF) rheumatoid factor is performed, this is a blood test to determine how much RF antibody is in the blood which is very helpful to determine if you have RA or an autoimmune disease, if there is an increase then there is most likely a chance of knowing that you have rheumatoid arthritis (MedlinePlus, 2013). Some other diagnostics can be a positive latex agglutination test, this test is a method that can be used to determine antibodies or antigens in a wide rage of bodily fluids such as saliva, urine or blood. They then send these results to the laboratory and mix it with latex beads that are coated with an antibody or antigen, if there is a positive reaction they latex beads then clump together

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include joint pain, tenderness, swelling or stiffness for six weeks or longer, morning stiffness for 30 minutes or longer, firm bumps of tissue under the skin on the arms (rheumatoid nodules), fatigue, loss of appetite and a low-grade fever. Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect smaller joints symmetrically first such as the wrist, certain joints of the hands, and feet. As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders. Symptoms may flare (periods of increased disease activity) lasting for days or months. It is difficult to diagnose RA in its early stages because the signs and symptoms resemble other inflammatory diseases. No single test can confirm RA. The rheumatologist will ask questions about personal and family medical history as well as recent and current symptoms (pain, tenderness, stiffness, difficulty moving.) During the physical exam, the doctor will examine each joint, looking for tenderness, swelling, warmth and painful or limited movement. Blood tests will measure erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Although not specific to RA, these levels indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are antibodies found in a large number of people with RA. An X-ray, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging scan may be recommended to look for joint

Low temperature, fatigue and weakness, elevated sedimentation rate and a positive rheumatoid factor. History of weight loss, anorexia and fever; swan neck deformity and boutonniere deformity and a decreased range of motion (Silvestri, 2013). During an assessment for this type of disorder you can tell if there are any joint deformities such as subluxation also know as dislocation can occur as well. Warmth or swollen joints, limited movement of the joint or immovable joints also known as ankylosis. Skin may be reddened but does not apply to everyone who has RA (Rosdahl, 2012). Some studies have shown that RA has been linked to having cardiovascular disease. Is been shown that most people that are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are 3 times more likely to have a heart attack than others due to inflammation in the body affecting all other organs (Crowson, 2013).

Evaluation of RA is by physical examination, roentgenography of joint and serologic test for RF (rheumatoid factors). Treatment may be conservative or surgical. Conservative

Rheumatoid Arthritis had a couple of different names such as arthritis deformans, and rheumatoid gout (Mandal, 2009). However with the studies conducted by Alfred Garrod, he was able to make a clear distinction between Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis and gout (Mandal, 2009). Rheumatoid Arthritis has been around for quite some time, and it seems as if it is very prevalent in the present times as well.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is abbreviated as (RA), by definition, is an inflammatory immune-mediated defect. In developed countries, its prevalence is about 0.5 to 1%. It is a serious disease whose effects can at times lead to permanent disability. Some of the effects include bone erosion, articular destruction and chronic synovial inflammation, which results in functional decline and disability. The Introduction of effective and efficient intervention has been put in place to reduce joint damage and functional impairment.

Rheumatoid arthritis or (RA) can be difficult to diagnose for several reasons and there are many ways to diagnose it. Since there is no single test for the disease, there are just three ways to specify whether the patient has the disease or not. In addition, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis diseases can be similar that makes the diagnosing process inaccurate. Moreover, the symptoms vary from patient to another and it develops over time, so it can be severe in some people than the others can. As a result, doctors use several ways to diagnose this disease and to rule out the others. At the beginning, doctors always ask the patients to describe the symptoms and if it changed over time or not. In addition, they

It is believed that the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis could be hereditary and linked to a certain gene. One gene that it is possibly linked to RA is HLA-DR alleles. This gene is linked to European ancestry. Patients that have Rheumatoid Arthritis sixty to seventy percent carry the HLA-DR allele gene (Arnett and Assassi 3). There have been very few studies to prove this link in the gene to Rheumatoid Arthritis. The results of studies attempting to understand the link between DNA and RA are still not completely understood. According to USDA authors there are genetic markers that “play a role in the immune system” and “are associated with a tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis” (“Handout on Health: Rheumatoid Arthritis”). However, the presence of the genes that have been identified indicates a “moderate risk” of developing this disease. This information means that there are other factors in addition to genetic make-up that cause the development of this disease.

The study showed high level of IL-6 in patients group in compare with control group, The mean concentration of IL-6 recorded (123 ± 25 pg/ml), with significant differences (p≤0.05) between patients and control group (58 ± 24 pg/ml) figure (3-7).