Conventional wisdom believes that Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defense system responds to a "false alarm" and attacks the joints. Different opinions center on which part of the joint is involved. Some believe that the synovium is attacked. Others argue that the collagen is assaulted. None of the argument really matters because the cause of the disease remains unknown to researchers.

Recent Articles Submit Articles Top Authors Top Articles Editorial Guidelines Contact Us Article Writing Blog RSS Builder FAQ RSS

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory disease in which joint disease is center-stage, with a background of constitutional and internal manifestations. Systemic means that many parts of the body can be involved. Inflammatory means that the patient presents with redness, warmth, swelling and functional limitation in the joints. This can lead to joint damage, a major focus of the newer therapies for RA.

The answer is not to Elaine's knowledge. According to some researchers, the Rheumatoid Arthritis should also respond but we certainly know from messages on this list that the SCD does not help with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

A malfunction in the immune system is certainly a part of Crohn's disease. This may be an inability to "turn off" the immune system after it "turns on" for an appropriate reason. Or, the immune system may "turn on" for the wrong reason. Immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have been shown to be effective in treating Crohn's disease. These factors have led many researchers to characterize Crohn's disease as autoimmune.

There is certainly a malfunction in the immune system that takes place in ulcerative colitis. However, immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have shown less effectiveness in treating ulcerative colitis than in treating Crohn's disease.

The actual cause of RA is unknown, but it is thought to be triggered by environmental factors, such as infections with viruses or bacteria, in people with a genetic predisposition to the disease. However, while some patients do remember a viral-type illness when RA began, most do not. To date, no specific infectious agent has been found. (Some antibiotics may improve RA a bit, but their benefits seem to come from their anti-inflammatory action, not their bacteria-killing actions.

The main joint symptoms are related to the state of inflammation and include pain, swelling, redness, warmth and limitation in range of motion of the involved joints The joint pains in RA behave in a specific manner and affect multiple joints on both sides of the body in what is called a symmetric pattern. That is, if your left knee is affected, your right knee will likely also be affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive, systemic, autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation. At onset, small joints such as the hands, wrists, and feet tend to be involved more than large joints. Because it is a systemic disease RA can cause significant internal organ damage to areas such as the... There is an old joke. It goes like this: "Neurologists diagnose the untreatable while rheumatologists treat the undiagnosable.

This article discusses some of the prognostic factors used to guide arthritis specialists when they treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence suggests there is a narrow window of opportunity, perhaps as slim as 3 months, in which aggressive treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs can reduce x-ray damage and subsequent disability. Once a..

There are three main types of JRA. They include pauciarticular, polyarticular, and systemic. Ask your doctor.

Like many other bone, joint and muscle diseases, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is caused by weakened bone, joint and muscle metabolism. As part of the aging process, metabolism slows down gradually. It's not unusual for elderly to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately a small percentage of the population may experience a decelerating bone, joint and muscle metabolism at an earlier stage of life.

HUMIRA is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, also called a biologic DMARD, or simply "biologic." Biologics are a class of advanced medications approved for reducing the signs and symptoms of RA, and some are also approved for slowing the further progression of structural damage to the joints caused by moderate to severe RA.

EMS is described as being autoimmune-mediated or by some as autoimmune. It definitely is a disease that involves autoimmunity.