According to National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that causes pain,
swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It occurs when
the immune system, which normally defends the body from invading
organisms, turns its attack against the membrane lining the joints.
Inflammation most often affects joints of the hands and feet and
tends to be symmetrical (occurring equally on both sides of the body).
This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of
the disease. About 0.6 percent of the U.S. population (about 1.3
million people) has rheumatoid arthritis.
1
Etiology
The cause of RA is unknown. Genetic, environmental, hormonal, immunologic, and infectious factors may play significant roles. Socioeconomic, psychological, and lifestyle factors (eg, tobacco use, the main environmental risk2 ) may affect disease outcome.
Pathophysiology
Early events in the pathologic process that progresses to uncontrolled inflammation and consequent cartilage and bone destruction are synovial cell hyperplasia and endothelial cell activation. Genetics and immune system abnormalities promote disease propagation.
CD4 T cells, mononuclear phagocytes, fibroblasts, osteoclasts, and neutrophils play major cellular roles in thepathophysiology of RA, while B cells produce autoantibodies (ie, RFs). Abnormal production of numerous cytokines, chemokines, along with inflammatory mediators (eg, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-a], interleukin [IL]-1, IL-6, IL-8, transforming growth factor beta [TGF-ß], fibroblast growth factor [FGF], and platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF]) has been demonstrated in patients with RA.
At last, inflammation as well as exuberant proliferation on the synovial membrane (ie, pannus) results in destruction of various tissues, as well as cartilage (view the image below), bone, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. However the articular structures are the primary sites involved by RA, other tissues will also be affected.
Prognosis
Outcome in RA is compromised when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. The clinical course of RA is often certainly one of exacerbations and remissions. Approximately 40% of patients with this disease become disabled after ten years, but outcomes are highly variable. Some patients go through a comparatively self-limited disease, whereas others use a chronic progressive illness.
References :
1According to the National Arthritis Data Workgroup, the
actual number of new cases of rheumatoid arthritis is lower than
previous estimates because of changes in the classification for the
condition, as cited in Helmick CG, Felson DT, Lawrence RC, Gabriel S,
Hirsch R, Kwoh CK, Liang MH, Kremers HM, Mayes MD, Merkel PA, Pillemer
SR, Reveille JD, Stone JH, for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup.
Estimates of the Prevalence of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions
in the United States. Part I. Arthritis and Rheumatism.
2008;58(1):15-25.
2Carlens C, Hergens MP, Grunewald J, Ekbom A, Eklund A, Hoglund CO, et
al. Smoking, use of moist snuff, and risk of chronic inflammatory
diseases.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Jun 1 2010;181(11):1217-22.
[Medline].