Autoimmune arthritis, one of eight Autoimmune Arthritis diseases as defined by the International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement, is a chronic form of arthritis that occurs when infection-fighting antibodies in the immune system mistakenly begin attacking the membranes that surround joints called synovium. The synovium begins to thicken under the attack and invades and destroys the surrounding bone and cartilage within the joint. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.3 million people had rheumatoid arthritis in 2005.
Flu-like Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many parts of the body. Adverse effects result from the inflammation process caused by the malfunctioning immune system. This can lead to a wide variety of symptoms. In the earliest stages, patients may feel flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, low fever, swollen glands and general weakness.
Joint Pain and Swelling
MayoClinic.com states that smaller bones and joints begin to show signs of swelling and joint pain first. In many people, the joint pain is symmetrical, occurring on both sides of the body. People with rheumatoid arthritis often first notice the pain and swelling in the wrists, hands, ankles and feet. As the disease progresses, pain and swelling progresses to elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, jaw and neck. Swollen joints will often feel warm and spongy when touched. Hands may appear red and puffy.
Morning Stiffness
The National Institutes of Health reports that joint stiffness that occurs in the morning and lasts more than an hour is a common sign of rheumatoid arthritis. While many people with osteoarthritis suffer from stiffness of the joints, it can take people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis several hours to loosen up stiff joints.
Heart Disease
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation to the lining surrounding organs. Patients may experience inflammation of the outer layer of the heart. According to the Arthritis Foundation, patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop coronary artery disease. Clogged arteries lead to chest pain, known as angina, and heart attack. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have a decreased life expectancy compared to the rest of the population due to the effects on the heart.
Rheumatoid Lung Disease
The National Institutes of Health explains that rheumatoid lung disease is a group of lung problems related to rheumatoid arthritis. Pulmonary inflammation is common in rheumatoid arthritis patients but often does not cause any symptoms. In rare cases, however, patients may begin to suffer from lung conditions such as fluid in the chest, scarring of the lungs, lumps and high blood pressure in the lungs known as pulmonary hypertension.
References
- Arthritis Foundation: Arthritis Foundation and Heart Disease
- MayoClinic.com: Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms
- National Institutes of Health/Medline Plus: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Arthritis Related Statistics
- National Institutes of Health/Medline Plus: Rheumatoid Lung Disease
