Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
RA can affect many different body systems, including the musculoskeletal system, integumentary system, ocular system, immune system, circulatory system, and more.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with various nonarticular manifestations, including a range of neurologic abnormalities, such as cervical spine instability, compressive neuropathy (eg, of the median nerve at the wrist, which results in carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]), and an often subclinical sensory or ...
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining (synovial membrane) becomes inflamed and swollen. The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found people with RA report higher rates of stomach ulcers, bleeding, and esophagitis (inflammation and swelling of the esophagus) in the upper GI tract, and perforations (holes), bleeding, bowel inflammation, and infections in the lower GI tract.
In this survey of 247 patients, as many as 38% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 47% of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and even 34% of patients with soft tissue rheumatism (STR) reported difficulty controlling their urine, confirming that incontinence is a widespread and often under-reported problem.
Now, research involving mice and a small group of patients has connected the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis to a newly discovered species of bacteria found in the gut microbiome — the vast community of microbes that assist digestion and influence human health.
People with rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are often at increased risk of infections because they may take immunosuppressive drugs to treat their disease. Immunosuppression, or the artificially reduced function of the immune system, decreases the inflammation associated with rheumatic conditions.
Inflammatory substances called cytokines fuel joint destruction in RA and blood vessel damage in cardivascular disease (CVD). Inflammation causes plaque build-up in the arteries, which slowly narrows blood vessels and blocks blood flow, and is the main cause of heart attack and stroke.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means it's caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. However, it's not yet known what triggers this. Your immune system normally makes antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses, helping to fight infection.
Systemic: Affects Many Organs
Consequently, the pathological damage involves many different organs and tissues. Typical systemic autoimmune diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis.
In non-organ specific autoimmune diseases, which include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and the vasculitides, the autoantibodies are not organ restricted and present in many different tissues.
People with RA are more likely to have narrowed or blocked arteries in the brain – the result of systemic inflammation. This can cause problems with memory, thinking and reasoning. Arthritis Meds. Methotrexate is a mainstay of RA treatment and corticosteroids are sometimes used for short-term pain relief.
A variety of immune cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RA (1), including cells from the innate immune system, such as macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and natural killer (NK) cells; and from the adaptive immune system, such as T lymphocytes (T cells) and B lymphocytes (B cells).
Liver damage during RA is most common in the form of asymptomatic abnormal liver tests. Occasionally, liver damage may progress to cirrhosis. Patients with RA are more susceptible to an associated autoimmune liver disease.
Systemic manifestations and complications of RA—including pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal involvements; glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis (GIOP); and infection—which have significant impacts on the disease outcomes, occur in approximately 40% of patients [2].
Widespread inflammation
lungs – inflammation of the lungs or lung lining can lead to pleurisy or pulmonary fibrosis, which can cause chest pain, a persistent cough and shortness of breath. heart – inflammation of the tissue around the heart can lead to pericarditis, which causes chest pain.
People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of high blood pressure, also called hypertension. The two conditions are comorbidities, meaning they commonly occur together. Large research studies have found the prevalence of hypertension in people with RA ranges from 52 percent to 73 percent.
Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the hands, lower back, neck, and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, and feet.
It can cause pain, disability, and premature death. Premature heart disease. People with RA are also at a higher risk for developing other chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. To prevent people with RA from developing heart disease, treatment of RA also focuses on reducing heart disease risk factors.
Blood tests
No blood test can definitively prove or rule out a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, but several tests can show indications of the condition. Some of the main blood tests used include: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – which can help assess levels of inflammation in the body.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often develop gradually over several weeks, but some cases can progress quickly over a number of days. The symptoms vary from person to person. They may come and go, or change over time. You may experience flares when your condition deteriorates and your symptoms become worse.
Vitamin D can play a role is easing some of the symptoms related to rheumatoid arthritis, but it is by no means a panacea. You still need your medication and other forms of therapy to keep the disease under control.
The Epstein-Barr virus isn't the only virus suspected as an infectious agent in RA. Other examples include retroviruses and parvovirus B19, which causes fifth disease.
Some people benefit from taking lactic-acid probiotics like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, while others do better with yeast-derived probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii or soil-based organisms like Bacillus. For some people, a combination of all three probiotic types is ideal.