Archive for the 'Rheumatoid Arthritis' Category
Concerned about Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Friday, August 17th, 2007
Arthritis is the term used for over 100 rheumatoid and joint related diseases, with the most common being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The word arthritis refers to “joint inflammation” and rheumatoid arthritis is actually an attack on the immune system where the system turns on itself and attacks the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain and swelling, redness, warmth and can affect other organs of the body like skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, nerves or kidneys.
How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed? Part - II
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
Abnormal blood antibodies can be found in patients with RA. It is useful to know that a “rheumatoid factor” in 80% of patients and Citrulline antibody (also referred to as anti-citrulline antibody, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, and anti-CCP) is present in most patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A traditional blood test will not reveal the presence of anti CCP, so a special blood test meant for the same has to be performed. Citrulline antibodies represent the earlier stages of rheumatoid arthritis. Another antibody called “the antinuclear antibody” (ANA) is also frequently found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed? Part - I
Sunday, July 1st, 2007
The American College of Rheumatology has defined (1987) the following criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis:
- Morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour.
- Arthritis and soft-tissue swelling of 3 or more of 14 joints/joint groups:
- Arthritis of hand joints
- Symmetric arthritis
- Subcutaneous nodules in specific places
- Rheumatoid factor at a level above the 95th percentile
- Radiological changes suggestive of joint erosion
Four criteria need to be met for RA to be confirmed. For example: one of the criteria is the presence of bone erosion on X-Ray. Prevention of bone erosion is one of the main aims of treatment because it cannot be cured. To wait until all of the ACR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis are met is likely to worsen the patients suffering. Most rheumatologists deem it better to treat the patient as early as possible and prevent bone erosion, even if this means treating patients who don’t fulfill the full ACR criteria. The ACR criteria are, however, very useful for categorizing patients with established rheumatoid arthritis, for example for epidemiological purposes.
What are the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be very subtle and imprecise at its inception. They vary according to the extent of tissue inflammation. Exhaustion, depression, anorexia, continual low-grade fever, weight loss, and indistinct articular signs are all preliminary signs of RA. If the body tissues are inflamed, the disease is active. When tissue inflammation drops, the disease can be presumed to be in remission.
Remissions can occur on their own or during medication, and can last weeks, months, or years. During remissions, symptoms of the disease ebb, and patients normally feel better. But with the patient going into a relapse, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis return, which is called a flare. Its course varies individually, and phases of flares and remissions are known to occur.
What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007The causes of rheumatoid arthritis have not been defined as one or the other, but it has been established that it is not communicable. An external aberrant organism might source a primary reaction from the resistance system in the form of altered antibodies. The body doesn’t recognize these altered antibodies as “self”. Also known as rheumatoid factors, these antibodies might mistake the syvonium molecules for an infection. The rheumatoid factor then generates inflammation of the joint lining.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Monday, June 18th, 2007
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a painful ailment of the joints characterized by swelling and heat. The damage to the joint can put the patient out of action for several days or months at a go. While it can last for years, patients may go on for long interludes with no indications of the disease. Usually, though, it is a progressive illness that has the potential to thwart physical functions and cause soreness of the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs.
