What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

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What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that causes joint inflammation, leading to joint deformity and impaired function. In RA, the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells surrounding the joints.

The disease may also affect other organs, causing pain, restricted mobility, and negatively impacting work and social life. Rheumatoid arthritis, also referred to as inflammatory rheumatism, can be managed through lifestyle changes, physical therapy, medication, or surgery.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA is characterized by inflammation of the synovial tissue in the joints, causing pain, swelling, warmth, and stiffness. It commonly affects the small joints of the hands and feet but may involve larger joints and other organs.

Key symptoms include:

  • Tenderness, swelling, and pain in the joints
  • Joint stiffness, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity
  • Involvement of finger and toe joints, as well as wrist joints
  • Stiffness in larger joints such as elbows, shoulders, hips, and knees
  • Fatigue
  • Burning sensation
  • Loss of appetite and weight
  • Limited range of motion
  • Joint swelling, warmth, and sometimes redness
  • Increased stiffness after sleep or prolonged sitting

General symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and fever in some patients.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA develops due to a problem in the immune system, which attacks the tissues within the joints, causing inflammation. This can result in the destruction and weakening of bone tissue in the joints.

Risk Factors

The exact causes of immune system attacks on body tissues are still being studied. RA development is thought to be influenced by genetic predisposition, individual characteristics, infections, smoking, and environmental factors.

  • Risk increases with age
  • Women are 2–3 times more likely to develop RA than men
  • Smoking increases risk and can worsen disease progression, especially in individuals with certain genetic profiles
  • Excess body weight also increases the likelihood of developing RA

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made based on physical examination, laboratory tests (e.g., RF, Anti-CCP), and imaging techniques (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI). Since symptoms of inflammatory rheumatic diseases can be similar, consulting experienced specialists or rheumatologists is essential for accurate diagnosis.