Rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It has several ... more about Rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Rheumatoid arthritis is available below.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis

• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Morning joint stiffness
• Joint stiffness after inactivity

See full list of 29 symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis

Medical Textbooks Online about Rheumatoid arthritis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Rheumatoid arthritis

• Physical exam
• Rheumatoid factor blood test - an antibody test
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• CBC
• White blood cell count

See full list of 7 diagnostic tests for Rheumatoid arthritis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis?

• Misdiagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis
• Failure to diagnose Rheumatoid arthritis
• Underlying causes of Rheumatoid arthritis (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Rheumatoid arthritis

Misdiagnosis and Rheumatoid arthritis

Rare undiagnosed iron disorder causes various severe conditions: The rare "iron overload" disorder, hemochromatosis, can cause a variety of symptoms and result in various severe conditions that mimic several of the big name medical conditions. However, since it is quite rare (about 1 in 200 to 1 in 300), it may go undiagnosed, and indeed doctors may not even test for it. It can damage the pancreas, causing pancreatitis, leading to diabetes-like symptoms. It can damage the liver, leading to liver symptoms such as jaundice. Hemochromoatis can also damage the joints, giving the appearance of arthritis. The heart is another organ that excess iron can damage. Fortunately, this condition has a relatively simple treatment, and these complications can often be reversed by treatment of the iron overload causing them. See introduction to hemochromatosis....more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Rheumatoid arthritis

Causes of Rheumatoid arthritis

Read more about causes of Rheumatoid arthritis.

More information about causes of Rheumatoid arthritis:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Rheumatoid arthritis (6 listings)
• Rheumatoid arthritis as a complication caused by other conditions
• Rheumatoid arthritis as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Rheumatoid arthritis

Treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis

• Pain relief
• NSAIDs
  • Aspirin - though not recommended for children due to side effects and the risk of Reye's syndrome.
  • Salicylate medications
  • Buffered aspirin

See full list of 55 treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis

Videos for Rheumatoid arthritis

Patient Surveys for Rheumatoid arthritis

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Rheumatoid arthritis
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Rheumatoid arthritis

Prognosis for Rheumatoid arthritis: Normal lifespan typical. At least 70% lead an active normal life (usually with medications).

More about prognosis of Rheumatoid arthritis

Reseach about Rheumatoid arthritis

Visit our research pages for current research about Rheumatoid arthritis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Rheumatoid arthritis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients With Life Threatening Autoimmune Diseases - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - anti-thymocyte globulin,cyclophosphamide,cyclosporine,filgrastim,methylprednisolone,prednisone
• Study of High-Dose Cyclophosphamide and Anti-Thymocyte Globulin With T-Cell-Depleted Autologous Bone Marrow Rescue in Patients With High-Risk Rheumatoid Arthritis - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - anti-thymocyte globulin,cyclophosphamide,filgrastim
• A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Activity of Fontolizumab in Subjects With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Fontolizumab
• Study of Gammalinolenic Acid for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - gamma-Linolenic acid
• Pilot Study of Total Body Irradiation in Combination With Cyclophosphamide, Anti-Thymocyte Globulin, and Autologous CD34-Selected Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Children With Refractory Autoimmune Disorders - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - anti-thymocyte globulin,cyclophosphamide,filgrastim

See full list of 327 Clinical Trials for Rheumatoid arthritis

Statistics for Rheumatoid arthritis

• Medical statistics for Rheumatoid arthritis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Rheumatoid arthritis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Rheumatoid arthritis
• Society statistics for 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;

Read more about Types of Rheumatoid arthritis

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Rheumatoid arthritis

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Rheumatoid arthritis

See all guides and ebooks for Rheumatoid arthritis

Stories from Users Related to Rheumatoid arthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis and parvo virus
• Dr. says he cured my rheumatoid
• Joint pain RA or something else
• My sister may have Rheumatoid Arthritis...
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Wrist and Ankle Pain in 36 y.o. Male: Does this sound like Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• My Story RRV + RA
• Is it RA
• Lupus? RA?
• Recently Told I Have RA
• rheumatoid arthritis
• amenorrhea in rheumatoid arthritis

Related forums and stories:

• Autoimmune Diseases (32)
  • ANA testing???
  • autoimmune disease
  • backspasm, neck, shoulder, buttock aches >ankylosing spondylitis
  • Feeling Worse after 3yrs Levo: What is causing Hashimoto's?
  • What kind of Autoimmune Disease is this?
  • More user stories
• Arthritis (22)
  • more than arthritis????
  • seronegative rheuatoid arthritis
  • Just diagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis
  • Had it for 2yrs!!
  • Arthritis In Throat????
  • More user stories
• Joint Conditions (14)
  • Sternoclavicular chondritis- pain, pain and more pain!
  • Joints clicking????
  • bursa has pushed knee cap over
  • patricia54
  • 6 yr. old with stiff joints
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Rheumatoid arthritis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Rheumatoid arthritis

Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS (Excerpt)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It has several special features that make it different from other kinds of arthritis (see information box below). For example, rheumatoid arthritis generally occurs in a symmetrical pattern. This means that if one knee or hand is involved, the other one is also. The disease often affects the wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand. It can also affect other parts of the body besides the joints (see illustrations below). In addition, people with the disease may have fatigue, occasional fever, and a general sense of not feeling well (malaise). (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)

Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disorder in which immune cells attack and inflame the membrane around joints. It also can affect the heart, lungs, and eyes. Of the estimated 2.1 million Americans with rheumatoid arthritis, approximately 1.5 million (71 percent) are women. (Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC)

Wiki article about Rheumatoid arthritis

See full article about Rheumatoid arthritis

Definitions of 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)

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)