Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease primarily affecting the joints. It is an extremely painful illness, often resulting in disfigurement and destruction of joints. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave an RA incidence rate of between 42 and 68 per 100,000 persons in the U.S. annually between 1975 and 1990. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, RA can strike people of any age but usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, affecting women two to three times more often than men.
Anemia
Out of all RA manifestations arising in areas other than the joints, anemia is the most common. According to the National Anemia Action Council in 1990, approximately 30 to 60 percent of RA patients are anemic. These patients are often more ill, with greater levels of joint involvement. Most are classified as having what is termed "anemia of chronic disease," while others have an iron-deficiency anemia.
Nodules
Development of rheumatoid nodules is common in severe RA. These most commonly arise near the elbows, feet and knees, but they can occur within organs as well.
Generally, nodules are painless but can interfere with mobility and daily functioning. They may also create pressure on a nearby nerve.
Carpal and Tarsal Tunnel Disease
The swelling of tissues within the extremities can sometimes result in entrapment and compression of the nerves. This causes numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. A burning sensation may also be felt in the affected limbs.
Heart and Lung Disease
Pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart, can sometimes develop in people with RA, although it is usually asymptomatic. Growth of rheumatoid nodules on the heart can interfere with normal function. A rare, but very serious complication of RA is an inflammation of the heart muscle itself, called myocarditis. In the lungs, nodules and inflammation can sometimes lead to an accumulation of fluid.
Eye Complications
Some people with RA get what is called episcleritis, causing pain and redness of the eye. Rarely, RA can create scleritis, an inflammation of the white part of the eye, which can result in vision loss.
Sjogren's syndrome attacks the tear and salivary glands, resulting in a dry, gritty feeling in the eyes, as well as a dry mouth. "Approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, mostly women, develop Sjogren's syndrome," reports the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.
Blood Vessels
People with severe and unremitting RA can sometimes develop a condition called rheumatoid vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. This most commonly occurs in the skin or at the ends of the fingers, but it can involve many organs.
