What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
An inflammatory autoimmune diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that
causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints. It can cause mild to
severe symptoms. Rheumatoid
arthritis affects not only the joints, but can also attack the tissues of the
skin, lungs, eyes and blood vessels. People
with rheumatoid arthritis may feel sick, tired and sometimes feverish.
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease.
An
autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system turns against parts of the
body that is supposed to protect.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in a symmetrical pattern. This means that if one knee or hand is involved, the other is too. It can occur at any age, but usually begins during the most productive years of a person.
Affects more women than men
Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than in men.
About
two to three times more women than men suffer from this disease.
Causes and risk factors
Because real is unknown
Scientists believe that rheumatoid arthritis may result
from the interaction of many factors such as genetics, hormones, and the
environment. Although
rheumatoid arthritis sometimes runs in families, the real cause of rheumatoid
arthritis is unknown.
Research suggests that the genetic makeup of a person is an important part of the image, but not the whole story. Some evidence that infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria, may trigger rheumatoid arthritis in people with an inherited tendency to develop the disease. However, one or more specific agents are not yet known.
Non-contagious
It is important to note that rheumatoid arthritis is not contagious. A person
Cannot catch it from someone else.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Swelling and pain in the joints
Different types of arthritis have different symptoms. In general, people with most forms of arthritis pain and stiffness in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane. This inflammation causes heat, redness, swelling and pain around the joints. A person also feels sick, tired and sometimes feverish.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in a symmetrical pattern. If one knee or hand is affected, the other is also likely to be affected.
Diagnostic tests
Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages for several reasons. First, there is no test for the disease. In addition, the symptoms vary from person to person and can be more severe in some people than in others.
Common tests for rheumatoid arthritis include
* The Rheumatoid factor test. Rheumatoid factor is an antibody that is present eventually in the blood of most people with rheumatoid arthritis, however, all people with a record of rheumatoid arthritis positive for rheumatoid factor, especially early in the disease. Also, some people who test positive never develop the disease.
* The Citrulline antibody test. This blood test detects antibodies to cyclic Citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP). This test is positive in most patients with rheumatoid arthritis and may even be positive years before the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis develop. When used with the rheumatoid factor test, the test results of Citrulline antibodies are useful to confirm the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Other common tests for rheumatoid arthritis include
·
the erythrocyte
sedimentation rate, which indicates
the presence Of inflammation in the body
·
a test and counting of white blood cells
·
a blood test for anemia.
The diagnosis may take time
In addition, symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be similar to those of other types of arthritis and joint disorders, and it may take some time to rule out other conditions. Finally, the full range of symptoms develops over time, and only a few symptoms may be present in the early stages.
The diagnosis may take time
In addition, symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be similar to those of other types of arthritis and joint disorders, and it may take some time to rule out other conditions. Finally, the full range of symptoms develops over time, and only a few symptoms may be present in the early stages.