2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune
disease that can cause joint pain and damage
throughout your body. The joint damage that
RA causes usually happens on both sides of
your body. So if a joint is affected in one of
your arms or legs, the same joint in the other
arm or leg will probably be affected, too.
3.
4.
5. The cause of RA isn’t known. However, certain
factors seem to have a role in increasing the risk
of developing RA or triggering its onset. Factors
that increase risk of RA include:
being a woman
having a family history of RA
Factors that may trigger onset of RA include:
exposure to certain types of bacteria, such as
those associated with periodontal disease
having a history of viral infections like infection
with the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes
mononucleosis
trauma or injury, such as bone breakage or
fracture, dislocation of a joint, and ligament
damage
smoking cigarettes
obesity
6.
7.
8.
9. RA symptoms, which can occur throughout
the body, include:
joint pain
joint swelling
joint stiffness
loss of joint function
14. No test results are pathognomonic; instead,
the diagnosis is made by using a combination
of clinical, laboratory, and imaging features.
Potentially useful laboratory studies in
suspected RA include the following:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
C-reactive protein level
Complete blood count
Rheumatoid factor assay
Antinuclear antibody assay
15. Anti−cyclic citrullinated peptide and
anti−mutated citrullinated vimentin assays
Potentially useful imaging modalities include the
following:
Radiography (first choice): Hands, wrists, knees,
feet, elbows, shoulders, hips, cervical spine, and
other joints as indicated
Magnetic resonance imaging: Primarily cervical
spine
Ultrasonography of joints: Joints, as well as
tendon sheaths, changes and degree of
vascularization of the synovial membrane, and
even erosions
Joint aspiration and analysis of synovial fluid may
be considered, including the following:
Gram stain
Cell count
Culture
16.
17. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs)
corticosteroids
acetaminophen
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
(DMARDs): DMARDs work by blocking
your body’s immune system response.
This helps to slow down RA’s
progression.
18. Biologics: These new generation DMARDs
provide a targeted response to inflammation
rather than blocking your body’s entire
immune system response. They may be an
effective treatment for people who don’t
respond to treatment with more traditional
DMARDs.
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors: These are a new
subcategory of DMARDs that block certain
immune responses. These are drugs that your
doctor may use to help prevent inflammation
and stop damage to your joints when DMARDs
and biologics don’t work for you
