类风湿关节炎

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease that mostly affects joints. RA occurs when the immune system, which normally helps protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues. The disease causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints. Additional features of rheumatoid arthritis can include the following: It affects the lining of the joints, which damages the tissue that covers the ends of the bones in a joint. RA often occurs in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that if one knee or hand has the condition, the other hand or knee is often also affected. It can affect the joints in the wrists, hands, elbows, shoulders, feet, spine, knees, and jaw. RA may cause fatigue, occasional fevers, and a loss of appetite. RA may cause medical problems outside of the joints, in areas such as the heart, lungs, blood, nerves, eyes, and skin. Fortunately, current treatments can help people with the disease to lead productive lives.