Rheumatoid Arthritis Summary 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 in middle age and is most common in older people. 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. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Statistics and Research Antibodies Act Jointly to Promote Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Arthritis Genetics Analysis Aids Drug Discovery National Institutes of Health Common Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Reduces Risk of Death National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Gut Microbes Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis National Institutes of Health New Insights Found in Pain Processing and Sleep Disturbance Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Rheumatoid Arthritis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Encyclopedia Antimitochondrial antibody Antithyroid microsomal antibody C-reactive protein Caplan syndrome Complement Complement component 3 (C3) Complement component 4 Cryoglobulins Necrotizing vasculitis Protein electrophoresis – serum Quantitative nephelometry Scleritis Serum globulin electrophoresis Uveitis Find an Expert Arthritis Foundation: Local Office Directory Arthritis Foundation Find a Rheumatologist American College of Rheumatology National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Specifics Arthritis of the hand – Rheumatoid American Society for Surgery of the Hand Arthritis of the Wrist American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Palindromic Rheumatism: Does It Cause Joint Pain? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Diagnosis and Tests C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry CCP American Association for Clinical Chemistry ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Rheumatoid Factor American Association for Clinical Chemistry Synovial Fluid Analysis American Association for Clinical Chemistry Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Arthritis, Rheumatoid National Institutes of Health Array Collagen vascular disease Felty syndrome Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid factor (RF) Rheumatoid lung disease Genetics Genetics Home Reference: rheumatoid arthritis National Library of Medicine Start Here Handout on Health: Rheumatoid Arthritis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Rheumatoid Arthritis American Academy of Family Physicians What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Related Issues Immune System and Its Link to Rheumatic Diseases American College of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis: Can It Affect the Eyes? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Rheumatoid Arthritis: Can It Affect the Lungs? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Need to Know about Osteoporosis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Treatments and Therapies Joint Injection/Aspiration American College of Rheumatology Joint Replacement Surgery National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Medicines to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Array Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complementary Health Approaches National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis: Are Biologic Drugs Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Living With Living with Arthritis American Occupational Therapy Association Physical Activity for Arthritis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: Can Certain Foods Reduce Symptoms? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain: Tips for Protecting Your Joints Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Women Pregnancy and Rheumatic Disease American College of Rheumatology Journal Articles Rheumatoid Arthritis Seniors Rheumatoid Arthritis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Videos and Tutorials Rheumatoid Arthritis Educational Video Series Johns Hopkins Medicine NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Rheumatoid Arthritis: “You Are Not Alone.” Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Research Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Treatment and Causes Latest News Experimental Drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis Shows Promise HealthDay Study: Smoking Hikes Chances of Early Death for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients HealthDay
