PATHOGENESIS, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by inflammation leading to irreversible destruction of the joints, and it is connected with considerable morbidity, mortality and health related costs. Current research reveals the pervasive influence of environmental factors on the disease’s severity and activity. The pain and joint deformity are often associated with disability, depressive symptoms, a negative impact on social relationships and poorer health related quality of life. Key to more successful outcomes in chronic disease are effective selfmanagement strategies, particularly as long-term conditions. The treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis aims to relieve pain and to control inflammation, and the final goal is to achieve remission or at least low disease activity for all patients. The interaction between what the body experiences externally and how it reacts internally increases the variance in predictors for disease activity and complicates the understanding of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. As new research and information regarding the biological and environmental factors that impact the disease become available, a better understanding and appreciation for the chronic, and sometimes invisible, effects of rheumatoid arthritis are likely to emanate.