RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-INTRODUCTION

SUMMARY

1. Systemic, autoimmune, inflammatory, symmetric, peripheral polyarthritis of unknown etiology.

2. Primarily affects the synovial lining of diarthrodial joints (joints composed of type II hyaline cartilage, subchondral bone, synovial membrane, synovial fluid, joint capsule).

3. Rheumatoid factor - heterogenous antibodies directed against the F_c portion of IgG antibodies.

4. F:M ratio is 2:1, peak age of onset 55 years.

5. Increased risk of CV diseases, lung diseases, depression, OP, malignancies (lymphoma, lung, skin CA).

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].