Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr Gulraj Matharu

= a chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition of the joints

  Important points on RA:

• Polyarticular - many joints are affected and these are classically symmetrical
• Systemic disease - affects many other body systems
• More common in females (as is characteristic of autoimmune diseases)
• Affects about 1% of the UK adult population
• Peak onset = 4 ^th to 5 ^th decade

Aetiology:

Unknown but thought to be multifactorial with environmental and genetic factors playing an important role (HLA-DR4 genotype is particularly important)

Pathology: