Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with swelling

Rheumatoid Arthritis or “RA” is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body tissues. This disease affects the lining of joints causing pain and swelling. Eventually the swelling can lead to bone erosion and joint deformity. RA can happen to anyone at any age, but the majority of people who have to endure this disease are women over the age of 40.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. While inflammation of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease can also cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the

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

Arthritic joints show to contain high levels of TNF alpha both in fluid and expressed on the surface of the high number of CD4+ T cells. Bernard et al 1995 carried out an experiment to determine if CA2 binds to transmembrane TNF alpha and the effect of the binding on these expressing cells. The experiment was carried out on a cell line which expressed mutate forms of the transmembrane TNF alpha. The studied showed that TNF alpha binds to CA2 with high avidity which results in killing of TNF+ cells.

Joint stiffness may develop after long periods of sleeping or sitting. Nodules ranging in size develop in nearly one-third of people who have rheumatoid arthritis. Nodules usually develop on the elbows, knuckles, spine, and lower leg bones. Weight loss and a low-grade fever can also occur. Rheumatoid arthritis results in the destruction of cartilage in the joints, targets the synovial lining of joints and can damage the lungs, heart and the blood vessels. It occurs when your immune system attacks the synovium which is the lining of the membranes that surround your joints. The inflammation that results thickens the synovium, and can also destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint. The tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together get weak and stretch. This process causes the joint to lose its shape and joint

Or maybe you are someone who would rather just take a quick dose of medicine at home to help relieve your pain. Whatever your option to treat rheumatoid arthritis might be, know that there are many promising outcomes. The treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has been improved dramatically over the past 50 years. The ultimate goal of treatment is to help many people live a normal life again, while also maintaining the ability to function and move, reducing pain, and preventing joints from future damage. If these are achieved, the quality of life for a RA patient may be normal

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints, most often in the hands and feet. It results in swelling, stiffness, pain, and sometimes joint, bone, and cartilage destruction. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally, meaning if a joint on one side is affected, the same joint on the opposite side is affected as well. Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to a group of diseases called autoimmune disorders that affects joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system produces antibodies that attack the soft tissues lining of the joints. Eventually the cartilage, bone, and ligaments of the joint deteriorate, causing deformity, instability, and scarring within the joint

When the point of two or more bones comes together, it is called a joint. We are able to make a movement because the present of joints which are designed to allow movement and to assimilate shock from the movement such as running or walking. Furthermore, cartilage is an elastic and though tissue that covered the ends of the bones. The capsule act as protection centre which joints is surrounded by it. A type of tissue called synovium produces synovial fluid lined the joint capsule (Magro, C., M., and Crowson, A., N., 2003). The fluid is clear in substances that help the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule easily lubricated and nourished. The disease process leading to rheumatoid arthritis begins here. The protective sac consists of lubricating liquid known as synovial fluid. Other than to cushioning joints, cartilage is a slippery tissue located at the ends of the bones also get nutrients and oxygen which is supplied by the fluids. Cartilage also is the structural protein in the body, which is composed primarily of collagen. The functions of this cartilage is form a mesh to give protection and flexibility to the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, continuous inflammation of the synovium is occurred caused by an abnormal immune system response that secrete destructive molecules (Paleolog, 2002). As a result, collagen dramatically destroyed thus make the joint space

Occurs when the immune system attacks the synovium (lining of membrane surrounds the joints). The resulting inflammation thickens the synovium, which can eventually destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint. The tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together weaken and stretch. Gradually, the joint loses its shape and alignment. While your genes don 't actually cause rheumatoid arthritis, they can make you more susceptible to environmental factors — such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria — that may trigger the disease. Immune system starting to attacks own body 's tissues mistakenly.

Although, RA was a very common disease in ancient history. Arthritis and diseases of the joints have been plaguing mankind since ancient times. According to Choy (2013), “In around 1500 BC Ebers Papyrus described a condition that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis” (p.3). This is one of the first references to this disease. Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease was well-known in Egypt because of the evidence found while researching Egyptian mummies. Researchers found that RA was a common disease in ancient times due to lack of nutrition and lack of healthcare (Choy, 2013, p.4). In ancient times, treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis included bloodletting and leeching, which would likely lead to a variety of other health concerns. Next, Choy (2013) states, “The Far East developed practices of acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion” (Choy, 2013, p.3). Moxibustion means the use of heat. In the past, RA was also treated with plant extracts of Willow bark and leaves. These leaves contained silicon, and this relieved other arthritis pains for patients. Today, treatment changed to pharmaceutical medications named

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

RA can lead to crippling. It incapacitates the synovial tissue, which is the membrane that lines joints and secretes the lubricant that normally allows bones to move painlessly against other bones. With this condition, joints (most commonly the

There are 5 types of RA progression measured by imaging radiography. Type 1 is identified as a rare type, with no radiographic progression, type 2 is a slow or moderate onset with increasing progression, type 3 is a moderate-to-fast onset with stable progression, type 4 is a fast onset with a decreased progression rate, and type 5 is a slow onset with acceleration in progression, then deceleration (Graudal et al, 2004). Having any of the five types of RA can cause disability as a result of joint damage, lowers quality of life, and can lead to other comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, malignancies, and mental health conditions such anxiety and depression (Scott et al,

A history and physical is the first thing exam that us done and based on those findings more tests are completed. A complete blood count is done to check for anemia which can be common in a RA patient and the white blood count. Positive RF occurs in approximately 80% of patients, and titers rise during active disease (Lewis et al., 2011). The RF is done to check how much in the blood and circulation throughout the body. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are done to check for active local and systemic inflammation. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers are also seen in some RA patients (Lewis et al., 2011). ANA checks for the bad antibodies that are attacking the joints. Synovial fluid analysis is used to help diagnosis inflammation, pain and swelling. Increase in the fluid of the patient with RA and it may be a marker of progressive joint damage (Lewis et al., 2011). X-rays are done to check for swelling, bone demineralization, narrowing of the joint, subluxation and deformity (Lewis et al., 2011). Bone scans are done to detect joint changes. These tests are done at the beginning of the disease process and throughout to check on the progression of

Rheumatoid Arthritis or (RA) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and connective tissue. The result is inflammation that produces permanent damage in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that tends to be progressive and destructive as compared to Osteoarthritis or (OA), which is more of an age related disease caused by “wear and tear” of the joints. In contrast to (OA), rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation mostly of the joints, but is a general body disease.