Rheumatoid arthritis

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Rheumatoid arthritis	Rheumatoid arthritis	Rheumatoid arthritis	Rheumatoid arthritis
Synovial fluid

RA; Arthritis - rheumatoid

• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Limited range of motion
• Deformities of hands and feet
• Round, painless nodules under the skin (usually a sign of more severe disease)
• Inflammation of the lung (pleurisy)
• Skin redness or inflammation
• Paleness
• Swollen glands
• Eye burning, itching, and discharge
• Numbness or tingling
• Anemia may occur due to failure of the bone marrow to produce enough new red cells.

Joint destruction may occur within 1-2 years after the appearance of the disease.

• Joint x-rays
• Rheumatoid factor test is positive in about 75% of people with symptoms
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated
• CBC may show low hematocrit ( anemia ) or abnormal platelet counts
• C-reactive protein may be a positive indication for patients with no detectable rheumatoid factor
• Synovial fluid analysis

Review Date: 08/19/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by Stanford Peng, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (4/27/2004)