Physical Findings

Stop & Think

Lab and X-Ray

Differential Diagnosis

The Disease

Treatment

Conclusions

Quiz & Evaluation

• A systemic inflammatory disorder 
• Repeat this several times: Systemic disorder...systemic disorder...systemic disorder...
• No not "Auntie Em, I want to go home.. Auntie Em..."
• Specifically, RA is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder.
• Many tissues and organs are potentially subject to the inflammatory process:
• Skin and subcutaneous tissue
• Blood vessels, especially medium to small arteries
• Eye
• Heart
• Lungs
• Skeletal muscle
• Anemia and chronic infections.
• Nervous system
• But the principal focus is on the articular joints.

Speaking of the joint involvement                                Back