Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once.
3. Definition
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the
normal immune response is directed against an individual's
own tissue, including the joints, tendons, and bones, resulting
in inflammation and destruction of these tissues.
10. Blood test: anemia (in almost 50 % of patients), thrombocytosis,
neutropenia, increased ESR and CRP.
Immunological tests: rhematoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein
(ACCP) antibodies are the main diagnostic biomarkers of RA.
X-ray of hands and distal feet segments: periarticular osteoporosis, joint
space narrowing, single or multiple erosions, joint luxations or subluxations, bone
ankylosis
Laboratory and
Instrumental Diagnosis
