What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures; etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.
Source - Diseases Database
- Rheumatoid arthritis: a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint.
Source - WordNet 2.1
Rheumatoid arthritis: Introduction
Types of Rheumatoid arthritis:
Types of Rheumatoid arthritis:
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) - when RA occurs in those under 16
- Pauciarticular JRA - most common form of JRA (about 50%); involving 4 or less joints; usually large joints (e.g. knees); most commonly found in girls under 8.
- Polyarticular JRA - about 30% of JRA cases; more than 4 joints; often small joints; often symmetrical.
- Systemic JRA - about 20% of JRA; also called Still's disease;
- more types...»
Broader types of Rheumatoid arthritis:
How many people get Rheumatoid arthritis?
Prevalance of Rheumatoid arthritis: 2.5 million Americans (NWHIC); 1% of US population (NIAMS)
Prevalance Rate of Rheumatoid arthritis: approx 1 in 108 or 0.92% or 2.5 million people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Rheumatoid arthritis:
Scientists estimate that about 2.1 million people, or 1
percent of the U.S. adult population, have rheumatoid arthritis. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)
...
About 1 percent of the U.S. population
(about 2.1 million people) has rheumatoid arthritis.
(Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases: NIAMS)
Who gets Rheumatoid arthritis?
Patient Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Typically adolescents or young adults.
Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Although the disease often begins in middle age and occurs with
increased frequency in older people, children and young adults also
develop it. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)
...
Rheumatoid arthritis,
which affects 2.5 million Americans, can strike at any age, but usually
appears between ages 20 and 50. (Source: excerpt from Arthritis: NWHIC)
Gender Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: More common in women; 71% women (NWHIC); Women 4:1 (NWHIC).
Gender Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Like some other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
occurs much more frequently in women than in men. About two to three
times as many women as men have the disease. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)
Race Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic
groups. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)
How serious is Rheumatoid arthritis?
Prognosis of Rheumatoid arthritis: Normal lifespan typical. At least 70% lead an active normal life (usually with medications).
Complications of Rheumatoid arthritis:
see complications of Rheumatoid arthritis
Prognosis of Rheumatoid arthritis: Although rheumatoid arthritis can have serious effects on
a person's life and well-being, current treatment strategies--including
pain relief and other medications, a balance between rest and exercise,
and patient education and support programs--allow most people with the
disease to lead active and productive lives. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)
...
With
proper treatment, education, and changes in lifestyle, most women
with rheumatoid arthritis live long and productive lives.
(Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC)
What causes Rheumatoid arthritis?
Causes of Rheumatoid arthritis: see causes of Rheumatoid arthritis
Risk factors for Rheumatoid arthritis:
see
risk factors for Rheumatoid arthritis
What are the symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis?
Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis:
see symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis
Complications of Rheumatoid arthritis:
see complications of Rheumatoid arthritis
Can anyone else get Rheumatoid arthritis?
Contagion of autoimmunity:
generally not; see details in contagion of autoimmune diseases.
Inheritance:
see inheritance of Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis: Testing
Diagnostic testing: see tests for Rheumatoid arthritis.
Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Rheumatoid arthritis.
How is it treated?
Doctors and Medical Specialists for Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatologist, Orthopedic surgeon
;
see also doctors and medical specialists for Rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis:
see treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis
Research for Rheumatoid arthritis:
see research for Rheumatoid arthritis
Society issues for Rheumatoid arthritis
Hospitalization statistics for Rheumatoid arthritis:
The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Rheumatoid arthritis:
- 0.05% (6,633) of hospital consultant episodes were for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 95% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 27% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 73% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 9% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more statistics...»
Organs Affected by Rheumatoid arthritis:
Organs and body systems related to Rheumatoid arthritis include:
Name and Aliases of Rheumatoid arthritis
Main name of condition: Rheumatoid arthritis
Class of Condition for Rheumatoid arthritis: autoimmune
Other names or spellings for Rheumatoid arthritis:
RA, Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid disease, Felty's syndrome, RA
Source - Diseases Database
Atrophic arthritis, Rheumatism
Source - WordNet 2.1
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