by EBSCO Medical Review Board

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disorder of the joints. It causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function. It is most common in the hands, wrists, and feet. Other parts of the body may also be affected.

RA is caused by a problem with the immune system. It begins to attack healthy tissue in the joints. It is not clear why this happens. It is most likely due to a person's genes and environment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
IMAGE
Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
What are the risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis?What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?What are the treatments for rheumatoid arthritis?Are there screening tests for rheumatoid arthritis?How can I reduce my risk of rheumatoid arthritis?What questions should I ask my doctor?Where can I get more information about rheumatoid arthritis?

References

Aletaha D, Smolen JS. Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review. JAMA. 2018 Oct 2;320(13);1360-1372.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis. January 27, 2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/musculoskeletal-and-connective-tissue-disorders/joint-disorders/rheumatoid-arthritis-ra. Updated December 2018. Accessed January 27, 2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health%5FInfo/Rheumatic%5FDisease/default.asp. Updated September 2019. Accessed January 27, 2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:  https://www.dynamed.com/condition/rheumatoid-arthritis-ra . Updated May 22, 2019. Accessed January 27, 2020.

Revision Information