Rheumatoid Arthritis : An Autoimmune Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that affects whole systems of body particularly cardiovascular system, nerves, respiratory system (RACGP, 2009). The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unknown but it is hereditary which assists to have a risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 50%-60% (RACGP, 2009).

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

First, it is very difficult to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in its early stages. It is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are very similar to many other diseases. Second, the treatment has no one cure. This means there are things you can do to help, but there is not one thing that cures it. Next, the environmental factors are very few. One of which is infection with certain bacteria and viruses may trigger the disease. The other reason is smoking tobacco. The testing and diagnosis, treatment, and environmental factors are very dreadful

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

     People who have rheumatic diseases should see a rheumatologist in order to determine the precise form of arthritis and the stage of the disease. General physical examination is necessary, beyond that there is a specific rheumatic disease exam that include blood tests, x-rays, and a complete exam of the joints. Blood tests are helpful to confirm diagnosis because they can check for factors that are typical of other chronic diseases as well as specific for

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects the small joints in your hands and feet. It affects the lining of your joints causing pain and swelling. Which can eventually cause bone erosion and joint deformity? An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks its own body tissue. This disease can occur at any age but usually between the age of 40 and 60 years of age. Rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks your smaller joints first, such as those that attach your fingers to your hands, and your toes to your feet. As the disease progresses, symptoms sometimes spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders. Over time it can cause your joints to deform and shift out of place.(National

Since rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, it can also affect other organs and tissues, but it primarily attacks the joints in a symmetrical fashion. Rheumatoid arthritis develops from an abnormal immune response caused by exposure to an antigen, in a patient that is genetically susceptible. Autoantibodies develop and attack the patient’s cartilage and synovial tissues once the antigen exposure has occurred (Nelson, 2011). One of the most common

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.

The laboratory has many tests for inflammation these include the sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and many other less commonly used tests. These can be used to qualify inflammation. These tests can show inflammation is happening, once that is completed we can check and see if that inflammation is R.A. related or not. Tests specific for diagnosis are rheumatoid factor agglutination, ANA, and anti-CCP (Eustice, 2008). Evaluating the amount of inflammation then finding the origin of the inflammation using laboratory testing is the best method to diagnosing R.A..

RA is classified as a chronic, autoimmune rheumatic condition. It is caused by the immune system attacking the tissue in joints for unknown reasons, causing inflammation and swelling. The joint is a part of the body where two bones and bound by connective tissue. The ends of the bones are each surrounded by a capsule called synovium. The synovium creates a clear, lubrication substance called synovial fluid. RA is a condition that happens when the white blood cells in the immune system attack the synovium, causing swelling and pain where the joint is bound. Over

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic-autoimmune disease where antibodies attack the joints. This disease currently affects 1.5 million peoples in the United States and is the leading cause of pain and disability. The cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is still unknown, but hormones and environmental factors may play a role. Rheumatoid arthritis can be a progressive disease where there an inflammatory response and degrading of articular cartilage. These changes to the joints are irreversible and is more commonly seen in women then men. Rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly found in the hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. Not only can rheumatoid arthritis affect the joints, it can also

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. (Kobayashi, Momohara, Kamatani, & Okamoto, 2008, p. 4456) The term ‘chronic' refers to a disease being long term, and the term ‘inflammatory' means a sudden response to tissue in the body being injured.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that affects about 1.3 million people in America. It causes pain and swelling around the joints. Other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include fatigue, tenderness and weakness in the joints. There are a number of rheumatoid arthritis treatments available. The goal of treatment is to control the condition and improve a patient's quality of life.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex disorder characterized by inflammation of the synovium (the thin lining of a joint). RA is a chronic disease in which genetic and environmental factors contribute to the breakdown of tolerance to self antigens.

Signs and symptoms that occur with rheumatoid arthritis, vary from patient to patient depending on their progression stage and what factors contribute to their inflammation. Some examples of symptoms can include but are not limited to: swelling, stiffness, redness, deformity and pain of the joints, dryness, impaired vision, itchiness, burning and discharge coming from the eyes, damaged nerves, skin numbness, tingling and burning sensations, anemia, or a decreased production of red blood cells, and other physical symptoms can include fatigue, weight loss, a minor fever, loss of appetite and muscle aches.