rheumatoid arthritis

Question 1

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 1

It primarily affects the small joints of the hands and feet and, if not treated aggressively, can be a major cause of work loss, decreased quality of life, need for joint replacement surgery, and mortality.

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 2

> Joint pain and swelling
> Swan neck or boutonnieres deformity
> Ulnar deviation
> rheumatoid nodules
> vasculitic lesions
> pleuritic chest pain
> Scleritis and or uveitis

Question 3

What are the risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 3

> Genetic predisposition

> Smoking

Question 4

What is the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 4

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting around 1% of the population, making it the most common inflammatory arthritis seen by physicians

Question 5

What investigations would you do for rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 5

RA is a clinical diagnosis; laboratory and radiographic tests help to confirm the diagnosis and provide useful prognostic information.