Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

What is RA?

● Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that develops when the immune system attacks the body. RA affects the joints, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and salivary glands.
● The attack on the joints affects the synovium that lines and lubricates the joints.
● The cartilage and bones are destroyed over time, and the tendons become weaker causing the joints to become deformed.
● The damage to the bones can increase the risk of osteoporosis; consequently, people living with RA become prone to fractures.
● RA is not reversible.

Causes

● No one truly knows what causes RA.
● It is thought that RA may be genetic; however, this may not be the case.
● RA can develop at any age and occurs more often in women than men.

Symptoms

Early symptoms of RA will affect the smaller joints of the hands and feet.

● Tender, warm, swollen joints
● Joint stiffness
● Occasional fatigue
● Chronic dry eyes and mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome)
● Increased infections
● Carpal tunnel syndrome (inflammation of the wrists)
● Hardening of the arteries and blood vessels
● Pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart)
● Lung disease
● Rheumatoid nodules (spongy or firm bumps that form on the joints, typically the fingers)

Note: As the disease progresses, the wrists, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders may be affected.

Signs and symptoms may vary, pain may come and go, and patients may experience flare-ups and remission. Severe RA can be debilitating.

Treatment

● If you suspect that you have RA, please consult with your primary care physician or general practitioner as soon as possible for diagnostic testing, treatment, and management.
● A referral to a rheumatologist is best to help manage ongoing treatment of inflammation. The treatment goal is to slow down the progression of the disease.
● Medications typically prescribed will include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD).

● Referral to an orthopedic surgeon, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, neurologist, and dentist may be necessary if RA affects the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and salivary glands.