Knowra Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which immune activity inflames the synovial lining of joints. Persistent inflammation can erode cartilage and bone and may affect organs beyond the joints.
Synovium : The connective-tissue membrane lining movable joints and producing synovial fluid. Rheumatoid arthritis typically targets this lining, which thickens and becomes inflamed.
2010 ACR/EULAR rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria : A point-based system for classifying rheumatoid arthritis using joint involvement, serology, symptom duration, and acute-phase reactants. It formalizes how these findings support classification in people with inflammatory synovitis.
Rheumatoid arthritis flare : A period when rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and inflammatory activity worsen. Flare-ups can intensify pain, stiffness, and swelling after quieter periods.
Osteoarthritis : A joint disorder involving cartilage loss, bone remodeling, and changes in surrounding tissues. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, it is not primarily a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease.
HLA-DRB1 : A gene encoding part of an immune-system molecule that presents peptides to T cells. Certain HLA-DRB1 variants are among the strongest inherited risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid factor : An autoantibody directed against the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G. It is one blood marker associated with rheumatoid arthritis, though it is not present in every case.
Rheumatoid arthritis factor : A blood test that measures rheumatoid factor, an antibody associated with several diseases and some healthy people. Its result contributes to assessment but cannot establish the diagnosis by itself.
Rheumatoid nodules : Firm subcutaneous lumps associated with rheumatoid arthritis, often found over pressure points. They are an extra-articular manifestation, especially in people with seropositive disease.
Psoriatic arthritis : An inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis that can affect joints, entheses, and the spine. It can resemble rheumatoid arthritis but has distinct links to psoriasis and characteristic patterns of involvement.
Shared epitope : A sequence motif shared by several HLA-DRB1 variants associated with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility. It links genetic risk to immune recognition of citrullinated proteins.
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