Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers. More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts between ages 25 and 55. You might have the disease for only a short time, or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime.

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from your immune system attacking your body's own tissues.

No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. Genes, environment and hormones might contribute. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery. These can slow or stop joint damage and reduce pain and swelling.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Rheumatoid Arthritis on Wikipedia

'''Rheumatoid arthritis''' ('''RA''') is a chronic, inflammation autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful inflammation condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles. Derived from the Greek ''rheumatos''= flowing, -''oid''= in the shape of, ''arthr''= joint, ''itis''= condition involving inflammation

Features

The American College of Rheumatology has defined (1987) the following criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis [http://www.rheumatology.org/publications/classification/ra/ra.asp?aud=mem]: * Morning stiffness of >1 hour. * Arthritis and soft-tissue swelling of >3 of 14 joints/joint groups * Arthritis of hand joints * Symmetric arthritis * Subcutaneous nodules in specific places * Rheumatoid factor at a level above the 95th percentile * Radiological changes suggestive of joint erosion Four criteria have to be met, although many patients are treated despite not meeting the criteria. The symptoms that distinguish rheumatoid arthritis are inflammation and soft-tissue swelling of many joints at the same time (polyarthritis). The hands are generally affected in a symmetric fashion. The pain generally improves with use of the affected joints, and there is usually stiffness of all joints in the morning that lasts over 1 hour. If the arthritis has been longstanding, the inflammatory activity has led to erosion and destruction of the joint surface, which impairs their range of movement and leads to deformity. The fingers are typically deviated towards the little finger (''ulnar deviation'') and can assume unnatural shapes. Subcutaneous nodules on extensor surfaces, e.g. the elbows, are often present.

Diagnosis

When RA ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

The Ultimate Nutrient - For anyone suffering from CFS, EBV, lupus, fibromyalgia, hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/Aids, sinusitis, and cancer. By Jesse A. Stoff, M.D. one of the world's leading viro-immunologists.

JointRenew - Anti-inflamatory medication containing glucosamine sulfate and collagen, for treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Effects of Intercessory Prayer on Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Trial by Dale A Matthews, Sally Marlowe, and Francis MacNutt. Southern Medical Journal. [PDF]

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Biopharmaceutical company involved in discovery and development of therapeutic medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, allergies as well as neurodegenerative diseases and peripheral neuropathies. Contacts in Tarrytown, NY.

The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics - UK centre for the study of the genetics of multifactorial diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity.

Genmab - Biotech company developing human antibody therapies and treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

Paragon Genetics - Besides testing for family relations; paternity, non-invasive prenatal, and forensic DNA Testing, offers screening of different bacterial and viral organisms, as potential cause of chronic illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Health Genetic Center Corp., Concord, ON, Canada.

Theories by Charles E. Weber - Speculations on a wide range of topics, including plate tectonics, potassium's and copper's effects on rheumatoid arthritis, Permian to Cretaceous bone and soil evolution, and a proposal for a wide gauge railroad.

Cytopia Pty, Ltd. - Privately-held Australian drug discovery company with a focus on inflammatory diseases such as: Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Allergic Rhinitis (Hay fever), Food allergy, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, inter alia. Cytopia's first molecular targets are members of the JAK family of protein tyrosine kinases.

National Anemia Action Council - Offers research information about anemia associated with end stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease and diabetes.

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