Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that develops when certain cells of the immune system are not working properly and begin to attack healthy joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory arthritis cause by an autoimmune condition, affecting an estimated 3.25 million individuals in the United States. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent severe joint damage.
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood, however there are certain risk factors that play a role:
The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints. The smaller joints are typically the most affected, such as your knuckles, and the joints in your feet, however, larger joints such as shoulders and knees can also be involved. Other symptoms include:
Rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes be difficult to diagnose as it can begin with easy-to-miss symptoms – such as subtle aching and stiffness in the morning. Additionally, many other diseases – particularly in the beginning – can have similar symptoms.
Because diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult, it is important to have a complete evaluation by a rheumatologist who has the special expertise in complex bone and joint disorders. Along with warmth, swelling, and pain in the joints, certain blood tests can help in establishing the diagnosis.
Signs of rheumatoid arthritis include:
X-rays can also be used to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, but abnormalities might not show up in the first three to six months of the disease. In these early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, there is no single test that can confirm a diagnosis. Generally, the diagnosis comes after evaluating the symptoms from a physical exam, lab tests, and X-ray.
In early disease and in cases which there may be a question of diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound may be helpful in demonstrating inflammation and damage in the joints.
An important goal of the treatment therapy is to help slow down or stop damage to the joints, which is why early intervention and aggressive treatment are necessary. While there is no cure for the disease, newer therapies have been developed for rheumatoid arthritis that block the body’s signals to attack its own immune system.
The most common therapies are disease-modifying anti-rheumatic (DMARD) medications which can lessen or prevent joint damage. The first line DMARD treatment is methotrexate, however depending on your symptoms and other medical issues, your rheumatologist may recommend that you start with another DMARD. Since these DMARDs can take weeks to take effect, they are often prescribed in conjunction with treatments that can more quickly reduce inflammation, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids, such as prednisone. It is important to realize that while NSAIDs and steroids provide symptom relief, they are not able to prevent joint damage like the DMARDs.
Another class of DMARDs, called biologic DMARDs, are used in patients in whom drugs such as methotrexate are not totally effective. These therapies target specific parts of the immune system that lead to inflammation and joint damage.
Not all patients respond to therapy in the same manner, which is why it is important to work with your rheumatologist to determine the best course of treatment. Over time, therapies may need to be adjusted. Additionally, coordinated care among all of the patient’s physicians, physical therapy and occupational therapy are important components of proper rheumatoid arthritis care.
RA treatment has advanced greatly over the past 25 years, and the treatments available today provide most patients with dramatic symptom relief, enabling them to function at near normal or normal capacity.
To learn more about our services or to make an appointment with a Brigham and Women’s Hospital rheumatologist, contact one of our trained coordinators at 1-800-294-9999 to get connected with the best doctor for your needs.
Our expert rheumatologist, Daniel Solomon, MD, discusses the various treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis at Brigham and Women's Hospital and how treatment modules are evolving through vigorous research.
Our expert rheumatologist, Michel Weinblatt, MD, has been involved in research for rheumatoid arthritis treatments for the past forty years. Find out how Brigham and Women's is at the forefront of innovative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
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