Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints.  Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involved, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body. The disease may also affect other parts of the body. This may result in a low red blood cell count, inflammation around the lungs, and inflammation around the heart. Fever and low energy may also be present. Often, symptoms come on gradually over weeks to months.

While the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not clear, it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The underlying mechanism involves the body's immune system attacking the joints.  This results in inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule.  It also affects the underlying bone and cartilage. The diagnosis is made mostly on the basis of a person's signs and symptoms.  X-rays and laboratory testing may support a diagnosis or exclude other diseases with similar symptoms.  Other diseases that may present similarly include systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia among others.

The goals of treatment are to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and improve a person's overall functioning.  This may be helped by balancing rest and exercise, the use of splints and braces, or the use of assistive devices.  Pain medications, steroids, and NSAIDs are frequently used to help with symptoms.  Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate, may be used to try to slow the progression of disease.  Biological DMARDs may be used when disease does not respond to other treatments.  However, they may have a greater rate of adverse effects. Surgery to repair, replace, or fuse joints may help in certain situations. Most alternative medicine treatments are not supported by evidence