Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis in women and hence an important cause of potentially preventable disability. The typical clinical phenotype of RA is a symmetrical, deforming, small and large joint polyarthritis, often associated with systemic disturbance and extra-articular disease. The clinical course is usually life-long, with intermittent exacerbations and remissions and highly variable severity.

CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSIS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Diagnosis of RA is made with four or more of the following:

• Morning stiffness (> 1 hour)
• Arthritis of three or more joint areas
• Arthritis of hand joints
• Symmetrical arthritis
• Rheumatoid nodules
• Rheumatoid factor
• Radiological changes
• Duration of 6 weeks or more

Signs and symptoms


Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:

• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Joints that are tender to the touch
• Red and puffy hands
• Firm bumps of tissue under the skin on your arms (rheumatoid nodules)
• Fatigue
• Morning stiffness that lasts at least 30 minutes
• Fever
• Weight loss

Signs and symptoms appear in smaller joints first
Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes problems in several joints at the same time. Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first — the joints in your wrists, hands, ankles and feet. As the disease progresses, your shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, jaw and neck can also become involved.