Examination of Rheumatoid Arthritis
body’s immune proteins begin attacking healthy
cells in confusion. Unfortunately like most
By Travis C. Pippin at ST. Philips College
autoimmune diseases its etiology (causes) are not yet
known, “affecting approximately 1% of the world
population.” (Gibofsky, 2012). Associated with RA
are various auto-antibodies (immune proteins that
target and react with the organism’s own tissues &
organs) and cytokines, “A small protein released by
cells that has a specific effect on the interactions
between cells, on communications between cells or
on the behavior of cells. The cytokines includes the
interleukin’s, lymphokines and cell signal molecules,
such as tumor necrosis factor and the interferon’s,
which trigger inflammation and respond to
infections.” The common cytokines are T-cells, Bcells, macrophages, synovial fibroblasts, TNF-a
(alpha), (interleukin) IL-6, IL-1, VEGF (vascular
endothelial growth factor), etc. “The common autoantibodies include rheumatoid factor, anti-keratin
antibody (AKA), antiperinuclear factor (APF),
antibody to RA-associated nuclear antigen (RANA),
and Anti-RA33, which can serve as diagnostic and
prognostic markers.” The systemic nature of RA
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic (body- often influences a plethora of different organ
wide), chronic, inflammatory, and erosive systems. Symptoms of pain, fatigue, heavy
autoimmune disease where the body’s immune economic burden, and loss of basic kinesthetic or
bodily functions greatly degrades the quality of life
system attacks joints and other tissues.
for patient(s).
Rheumatoid arthritis
Various non-articular manifestations may be
correlated, such as subcutaneous nodules (lump
beneath the skin), vasculitis (inflammation of blood
vessels), interstitial fibrosis (excessive inner fibrous
connective tissue), and so-on. “Sjögren's and Felty’s
syndromes commonly occur with RA.” Where
Sjögren’s syndrome is another autoimmune disease
in which white blood cells breakdown the body’s
exocrine salivary and lacrimal glands (saliva and tear
production centers). Felty syndrome is a merger of
RA, splenomegaly (spleen enlargement), and
neutropenia (reduced numbers of neutrophils). RA
being a type of autoimmune disease, meaning your