Rheumatoid Arthritis B2.3

Question 1

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Answer 1

RA is an chronic autoimmune disease where the body produces antigens in the joints, such as in the synovial membrane and cartilage of the synovial joints.

Question 2

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 2

It is not clear what causes the immune system to attack the body’s own cells, although there is risk factors:
- genetics
- hormones (more common in woman)
- smoking
- age (40-60s)
- obesity (increases severity symptoms)

Question 3

What are signs and symptoms of RA?

Answer 3

• joint pain
• stiffness
• swelling
• redness
• fatigue
• inflammation

Question 4

What treatments are there for RA?

Answer 4

• DMARDS eg methotrexate: they reduce inflammation and slow down the progression of the disease, by blocking the effects of the chemicals released when your immune system attacks the joints (taken long term)
• NSAIDS eg ibuprofen, naproxen: helps manage pain and inflammation (taken short term to prevent stomach ulcer’s)
• Biological treatments eg monoclonal antibodies: targets specific parts of the immune system involved in the disease, reducing inflammation and slowing joint pain, usually taken with DMARDS as a vaccination or infusion.
• Physiotherapy: helps to strengthen muscles and make joints more flexible, also potentially helping with pain relief using heat packs, ice packs or tens machines.
• Surgery: in the fingers, hands or wrists, ligaments or tendons can be cut or released or inflamed tissue can be removed from the finger joints
• Arthoscopy: removes damaged tissues by inserting a thin tube with a light and camera attached to the joint.
• Arthroplasty: joint replacement surgery

Question 5

What is arthritis?

Answer 5

Joint inflammation

Question 6

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 6

a chemical and mechanical breakdown of this cartilage which causes pain and limited motion of the affected joints. There is no cause but risk factors include age, heavy manual labour, traumatic injury and obesity.

Question 7

What is the progression of RA? (4 stages)

Answer 7

Stage 1- inflamed synovial, no damage to joints. Pain and discomfort and stiffness come and go
Stage 2- inflammation of synovial has damaged joint cartilage giving pain, loss of mobility, limited range of movement and may develop nodules
Stage 3- damage has extended to joints, cartilege is worn away, bones rub together causing more pain and swelling. Bone may be eroded. Joints will be visibly bent and deformed
Stage 4- joints no longer function and may fuse together (ankylosis). Most people do not reach this stage.