Review on Clinical features and Diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis

M. Vasantha*
Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, SVU Staff Colony, Padmavathi Nagar, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India-517502

A B S T R A C T
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused by chronic inflammation of unknown etiology makedby symmetric, peripheral polyarthritiswhich results in joint damage & physical disability. It is a progressive disease of synovial lining of peripheral joints characterized by symmetrical inflammation leading to potentially deforming polyarthritis. It is the most common systemic inflammatory disease characterized by symmetrical joint involvement. Extraarticular involvement, including rheumatoid nodules, vacuities, eye inflammation, neurologic dysfunction, cardiopulmonary disease, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly, can be manifestations of the disease. The joints affected most frequently by rheumatoid arthritis are the small joints of thehands, wrists, andfeet. In addition elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, and anklesmaybe involved. The pathogenetic advances described herein have paralleled the introduction of new, effective therapies and remarkable improvement in clinical outcomes.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Inflammation, Joints, Poly arthritis, Autoimmune