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
description
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) refers to a an ‘overlap’ condition where patients develop features of other autoimmune conditions such as Raynaud’s, taught finger swelling (features of early scleroderma), arthritis and muscle inflammation (myositis). It is important to distinguish MCTD from other overlap conditions. The antibody hallmark of MCTD, and requirement for the classification and diagnosis of the disease is anti-U1-RNP.
Symptoms
- General feeling of being unwell (This can include increased fatigue and a mild fever)
- Cold and numb fingers or toes
- Raynaud’s phenomenon (In response to cold or stress, your fingers or toes might turn white and then purplish blue. After warming, the fingers or toes turn red)
- Swollen fingers or hands
- Muscle and joint pain (Joints can become inflamed, swollen and deformed, similar to what occurs with rheumatoid arthritis)
- Rash (Red or reddish brown patches can appear over the knuckles)
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
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Weakness