Rheumatiod arthritus (rheumatory arthritis) - rheumatoid diagnose

Rheumatioid arthritus (rheumatory arthritis) is most common in the age group of 20-40 but it can still develop at any other age as well. RA is closely coupled with the HLA marker DR4. W10 and 13 are protective and W4,14,15 are coupled with the rheumatoid arthritis.

Because of this, it becomes important to look at the actual family history when considering risk factors. Rheumatory arthritis is almost three times more common in females than it is in males and it is almost four times as common in smokers compared to rhrumotoid arthritis in non smokers.

Rheumatory arthritis risk factors

Some of the typical risk factors that can develop into RA - rheumetoid (rhumitoid) arthritis are:

• Being female - as rhuematoid arthritis is 2-4 times as common in females
• Smoking - rhumatoid arthritis is more common among smokers
• The family history (heritage) - relatives with rhematoid arthritis seems to increase the risk, especially siblings. 

Rheumatiod arthritis diagnosis

Today, rheumatiod arthritus is diagnosed using internationally agreed standards. Through this it has been easier to achieve comparable records on how common the RA disease is in different countries and population groups.

The frequency of people with rheumatory arthritis across the world is probably just under 1% of the poulation (around 0.8% according to the latest research). RA - rhrumotoid arthritis - is found all over the world, in all climates and will affect different ethnical groups to a varying level. Contrary to previous belief, it seems that the disease is more common in the middle ages - around 50 average age.

There seems to be no major differencies between younger and older when it comes to the development and intensity of rheumetoid arthiritis, at least in the earlier stages of the disease. It seems to be more common (2x or more) in females.

Rhumitoid (rheumatoid) arthritis causes

Rhuematoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which some of the cells of the immune system starts to malfunction and will then attack healthy joints. The underlying cause of rhumatoid arthritis is largely unknown although the focus of the inflammation seems to be the synovium (the tissue that lines the joint). Swelling and damage to the bone and the cartilage is caused when inflammatory chemicals are released by the immune cells. There is some new and rather exciting research which seems very promising in delivering a better understanding of the genetic factors as well as the immune factors that are involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

A result of this new rhematoid research is the new rheumatiod medicines that have been developed lately. These will block the signals from the immune system that are controlling some of the rheumatiod arthritus symptoms and causing the joint damage. 

Rheumatiod arthritus symptoms

Rheumatioid arthritus will result in pain in the joints, stiffness and after some time a reduced functionality. The disease can often start slowly with some pain in the front part of the feet where joints easily can become swollen. Rheumatory arthritis often develops in stages with alternating high and low activity, in other cases the disease can be highly active on a constant basis. The joints involved are usually the minor joints in the fingers, knuckles, toes, feet and later even the major joints. In the active stage of rheumatoid arthritis, the patient will usually have around one hour of morning stiffness. There can also be diffuse tiredness, often explained with a low blood value (Hb).