Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and deformities in many joints, mainly the hands and feet. This inflammation can also affect organs such as the eyes and lungs. Other common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include loss of energy, low fevers, loss of appetite, dry eyes and mouth, and rheumatoid nodules that grow beneath the skin. While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, treatment can help reduce these symptoms, improve function and prevent the disease from progressing. Common treatments include DMARDs, biologic response modifiers and surgery to correct any severe deformities.