Review of Rheumatoid Arthritis

摘要

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in various joints (most commonly in the hands, wrists, and knees). The respective joint's lining becomes inflamed, leading to tissue damage, as well as chronic pain, unsteadiness, and deformity. There is generally a bilateral/symmetrical pattern of disease progression (e.g., both hands or both knees are affected). RA can also affect extra-articular sites, including the eyes, mouth, lungs, and heart. Patients can experience an acute worsening of their symptoms-disease flare-but with early intervention and appropriate treatment, symptoms can be ameliorated for a certain duration (disease remission).