DISEASES
description
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects joints of the body, but can be accompanied by inflammation in other organs as well such as the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of the more common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, RA affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually lead to loss of the smooth gliding cartilage of the joint, erosions of the bone around the joints and, if unchecked, loss of function and deformity of the joints. Many new medications have improved treatment options dramatically. Because it is important to make an early diagnosis before joint damage occurs, autoimmune diagnostic test for autoantibodies called rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (ACPA / CCP) and other proteins in the joint (carbamylated peptides, peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD)) are used as an aid to diagnosis.
Symptoms
- Pain or aching in more than one joint
- Stiffness in more than one joint
- Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
- The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Weakness