What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a destructive disease that targets primarily the joints. However, it also affects many other organs and systems, including brain, heart, kidneys, spleen, blood vessels, lungs and muscles.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1 in 100 people. In developed countries, rheumatoid arthritis is the most common autoimmune disease. Although rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age, is more common after sixty. One in twenty women over the age of 65 has the disease. Economically it is very costly disease. Besides high direct medical costs is much more indirect medical cost. Rheumatoid arthritis causes many complications, requires drastic therapies and orthopedic surgery. Doctors estimate that rheumatoid arthritis does at a time and three patients with permanent disabilities. Half of the patients stop working in the first decade of diagnosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease. This leads to loss of mobility due to joint destruction and pain. The joints suffer a polyarticular form. This means that many affected joints, at the same time. Usually at the start joint problems are asymmetrical, the symmetrical later. The pain improves when you use the affected joints. There is also morning stiffness of all joints for an hour or more. In osteoarthritis pain worsens in the opposite direction – on the day after use.
The erosion and destruction of joint surfaces eventually leads to deformity. The fingers are typically deviated towards the little finger and unnatural ways: buttonhole deformity, swan neck deformity, Z-thumb “squared hand. In addition to the joints of patients suffering from anemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, drugs, splenomegaly (spleen larger) and leucopenia (Fealty’s syndrome), the salivary and lachrymal (tear) swollen glands (Jorgen’s syndrome).
Dermatology brands of RA include subcutaneous (under the skin), nodules mainly on the elbows. Lungs can get pulmonary fibrosis and stroke. Disorders of the blood vessels leading to heart attack sometimes nails, and nephropathies. Amyloidosis affects the kidneys, heart and muscles. Heart also suffers from pericarditis and the valve destruction. Dry eyes, swelling and softening sclera can be found. Fissure and eye humor leaks could happen. Neurological system is affected by the neuritis and the Atlanto-axial subluxation. Can eventually lead to compression of the spinal cord, paralysis and quadriplegia.
To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis developed American College of Rheumatologists criteria.
* Morning stiffness over an hour
* Arthritis and soft tissue swelling of more than 3 joints
* Arthritis of the Hand
* Symmetric arthritis
* Specific Subcutaneous nodules
* High rheumatoid factor
* Radiological changes showing joint erosion
At least four criteria for a diagnosis.
Immunological and other studies to help confirm the diagnosis: rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated antibodies against the protein, ESR, C-reactive protein, CBC, renal function tests, liver enzymes, antibodies contranucleares. HLA-DR4 marker is an important risk factor.