Rheumatoid Arthritis

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What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease in which the joints in the body become inflamed. RA is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It is different to osteoarthritis. You may have heard of people referring to their rheumatism. This is a non-medical word that people use to describe a range of joint problems some of which may be RA.

In RA, the body's own immune system gets confused and attacks the joints and sometimes other tissues. The immune cells that normally fight infections turn on the body's own tissues. This self attack (autoimmune) causes inflammation in the joints. People notice this as painful, swollen, red joints.

Usually it affects the joints of the hand and feet and then the larger joints. It usually affects both sides of the body.

There are many good treatments for RA now. Most people are able to continue working.

Who gets Rheumatoid Arthritis?

RA affects 0.5-3% of the population depending on where people come from. It may start at any time from early childhood (rare) to old age. However it usually starts between 30-50 years of age.

Before menopause women are affected 3 times more often than males. Following menopause the frequency in both sexes is similar. A family history of RA is common.

People who have a family member with RA are slightly more likely to get RA. However their risk is still very small.

Predisposing Factors

Doctors don't know the exact reason. They know that it is a mixture of a person's genes and things that they are exposed to can cause it, such as smoking. However, even identical twins don't always both get it. One study showed less than one in six identical twins both get it if one already has it. It is thought that a chain of events occur that leads the immune system to be confused.

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