Health Information
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Understanding This Symptom
Medical Definition
Subject Matter Expert Verified
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune inflammatory arthritis where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the synovial membranes lining the joints, causing painful swelling, joint destruction, and deformity.
It typically affects the small joints of the hands, wrists, and feet symmetrically, with morning stiffness lasting more than an hour being a hallmark feature.
Without treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to permanent joint damage, disability, and systemic complications affecting the lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
Quick Facts
What Optimal Health Looks Like
Understanding how your body functions when healthy helps identify dysfunction
In a healthy joint, the synovium is a thin, delicate membrane that produces synovial fluid to lubricate and nourish the articular cartilage.
The joint capsule contains ligaments, tendons, and muscles that provide stability and allow smooth, pain-free movement.
The immune system maintains tolerance to self-antigens (self-tolerance), meaning immune cells do not attack the body's own tissues.
T-regulatory cells (Tregs) actively suppress inappropriate immune responses, and the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines keeps the joint in a state of homeostasis.
Healthy Function
Your body is designed to maintain balance and self-regulate
How This Develops
Genetic predisposition - HLA-DRB
Autoantibody production - Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP/ACPA) are produced against modified self-proteins
Synovial inflammation - Immune cells (T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils) infiltrate the synovium, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-
that cause synovitis - painful swelling and warmth
Synovial hyperplasia - Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) undergo autonomous proliferation, forming an invasive pannus tissue that erodes cartilage and bone
Bone erosion - The pannus releases matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade cartilage, while osteoclasts are activated to resorb bone, causing joint deformities (swan neck, boutonniere)
Angiogenesis - New blood vessels form in the pannus, supplying nutrients to the expanding tissue and allowing immune cell trafficking
Understanding the mechanism helps us target the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.
What Happens If Left Untreated
Understanding the consequences helps you make informed decisions about your health
Short-Term Consequences
Days to weeks
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Time Matters
Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.