Overview

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five American adults suffers from some form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints.

Your immune system is made up of cells and blood factors that protect you against infection by attacking bacteria, viruses and other invaders. In RA, the immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks a person's own cells, inside the joints. This is why RA is often described as an autoimmune disease.

RA has several special features that make it different from other kinds of arthritis. For example, RA is symmetrical, usually affecting joints on both sides of the body - like both knees or both hands. The wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand are often involved. Joint stiffness in the morning (or after a long rest) lasts longer than 30 minutes. Other organs besides the joints may be affected, and people with RA may suffer from fatigue, occasional fever and an overall sense of not feeling well.

RA also varies greatly from person to person. You may have mild to moderate disease, with periods of worsening symptoms (flares) interspersed between periods of feeling well (remissions). Others have severe disease that is active most of the time, lasts for many years, and leads to serious joint damage and disability. Rarely, symptoms of RA last a few months or years and then go away without causing any noticeable damage.

The disease occurs in all races and ethnic groups. Although RA often begins in people ages 25 to 50, children and teenagers can also develop it. RA occurs much more often in women than in men. Researchers aren't sure why.

The financial, social and personal impact of RA is substantial. Within the United States, costs related to the treatment of RA and lost wages due to disability add up to millions of dollars. In some cases, RA can interfere with a person's ability to carry out normal activities and can affect job opportunities and family life. However, self-management programs can help people with RA cope with the pain and other effects of the disease and to preserve their independence and productivity. Although RA can have serious effects on a person's life, current treatments allow most people with the disease to lead active and productive lives.

Current research

Research has given us a new understanding of RA, increasing the likelihood that we will ultimately find ways to cure this disease. Researchers are studying genetic factors that predispose some people to develop RA. Some believe bacterial or viral infections may trigger RA in people with an inherited predisposition for the disease. Identifying how this occurs could lead to new therapies or even strategies for preventing RA. Scientists are also searching for drugs or combinations of drugs that can reduce inflammation and slow or stop the progression of RA, while causing few side effects.

In addition, investigators are examining issues related to the quality of life for RA patients, and the quality, cost, and effectiveness of health care services. They have found that even a small improvement in a person's sense of physical and mental well-being can have an impact on quality of life.

The results from RA research are having an impact today, enabling people with RA to remain actively involved in family and work life far longer than was possible 20 years ago. There is every reason to believe that research advances will continue to improve the quality of life for RA patients.

More on Rheumatoid Arthritis

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.