INTRODUCTION
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks normal tissues as if they were invading antibodies. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes inflammation of the tissues around the joints and other organs of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systematic illness and sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself over a period of a few months. Rheumatoid arthritis can lasts for years without symptoms. But rheumatoid arthritis is an illness that progresses and has the potential to cause joint destrution and functional disability.
- Until now, there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Reducing joint inflammation and pain, maximizing joint function, and preventing joint destruction is the current goal in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Optimal treatment includes combination of medications, joint strengthening exercises, joint protection, and patient education.
ETIOLOGY(cause)
What causes rheumatoid arthritis? the etiology of RA is remain unknown.The cause of rheumatoid arthritis has been the focus of different research activities. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis depend on the degree of tissue inflammation. the others factor are:
1.Maybe genetically inherited.
2.Infections or factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack the body's own tissues, resulting in inflammation in various organs of the body such as the lungs or eyes.
3.Regardless of the exact trigger, the result is an immune system that is geared up to promote inflammation in the joints and occasionally other tissues of the body.
4.Immune cells, called lymphocytes, are activated and chemical messengers (cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor/TNF and interleukin-1/IL-1) are expressed in the inflamed areas
SIGN & SYMPTOMS
Rheumatoid arthritis is said to be active if the body tissues are inflammed. When the tissue inflammation subsides, rheumatoid arthritis is said to be in remission. During active rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms are felt. During relapses (from inactivity to activity) of rheumatoid arthritis, joints become red, swollen, painful, and tender. As mentioned before, rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic disease which can affect organs and areas of the body other than the joints. A rare, serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis is blood vessel inflammation which can impair blood supply to tissues and lead to death of tissues.
