This document provides an overview of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It defines RA as a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints, causing swollen and painful joints, most commonly in the wrists and hands. It discusses the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of RA. The treatment section explains the main categories of drugs used to manage RA, including NSAIDs, DMARDs, glucocorticoids, and biological therapies that target cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-1.