2. Rheumatoid Arthritis Definition Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the joints and certain other organs throughout the body. It is called an autoimmune disorder. It is believed that the body's immune system accidentally mistakes its own tissues for foreign invaders. The immune system attacks the joints and organs, causing damage. Characterized by: Symmetrical inflammatory polyarthritis Extera-articular involvement Progressive joint damage causing severe disability
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4. Defects in the immune system can cause ongoing inflammation.
25. Valgus and virus deformitiesD/D from osteoarthritis : in (OA) the number of joints affected is much less than (RA). in (RA) distal interphalangeal joint is spared while in (OA) it is characteristically involved. The joint most commonly involved in (OA) are weight bearing e.g. knee and hip joints.
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27. Arthritis in at least three joints
28. Arthritis of the joints of the hand
29. Arthritis on both sides of the body
30. A positive blood test for rheumatoid factor (RF)
31. Presence of lumps under the skin, called rheumatoid nodules
32. X-rays that show signs of rheumatoid arthritis affecting the joints. (With duration of sex weeks or more , diagnosis of RA made with 4 or more criteria )
39. (2) loss of articular cartilage resulting in loss of joint space.
40. (3) Erosions gives mouth-bite appearance on the surface of The affected bone.
41. (4) Subluxation and Ankylosis. these 4 stages indicate the advancement of the disease process MANAGMENTS : there are 5 stages in management of RA with , LOCAL MANAGEMENT include rest splints Inter-articular corticosteroid injection. SYSTEMIC MANAGEMENT include NON-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Simple analgesics Slow acting disease modifying anti-rheumatic dugs e.g. antimalarial , sulphasalazine , penicillamine