Muhammetnazar Ergeshov

1st Year Nursing Student

Department of Nursing (ENG)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-is an autoimmune disease that
cause inflammation around the body, but mostly affects
joints.
• It occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissues.
Signs and Symptoms
Early signs and symptoms:

• pain
• stiffness
• tenderness
• swelling or redness in one or more
joints.
• People with RA often feel fatigue and general malaise.
For example,
• Fever
• Poor sleep quality
• Loss of appetite
• And may experience depressive symptoms
Risk factors
 The specific causes for the disease are still unknown.
But the common identified risk factors are:
• Age
• Gender
• Genetics
Diagnosis method
• Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its
early stages, because the early signs and symptoms can be
similar to many other diseases.
• During the physical exam a doctor will check the joints for
swelling and redness.
 Exams and Tests

Two lab tests that are positive in most people and often help in the diagnosis
are:
• Rheumatoid factor
• Anti-CCP antibody

These tests are positive in most patients with RA.

The anti-CCP antibody test is more specific for RA
What are the complications of RA?
 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has many physical and social
consequences and can lower quality of life:
• Premature heart disease.
• Obesity
• Employment
Treatment Interventions
 Medical treatment
• The medications which will be recommended depending on
the severity of the symptoms:
• NSAIDs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,such as ibuprofen
can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• Steroids. Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, reduce
inflammation and pain also slow joint damage.
• Conventional DMARDs. Disease-modifying antirheumatic
drugs(DMARDs),such as methotrexate can slow the progression
of rheumatoid arthritis and save the joints.
 Surgical treatment
• If medications fail to prevent or slow joint damage, the
surgery will be considered to repair damaged joints.
• Synovectomy. Surgery to remove the inflamed lining of the
joints(synovium) can help reduce pain and improve the joints
flexibility.
• Tendon repair. Inflammation and joint damage may cause
tendons around your joint to rupture.
• Total joint replacement. During joint replacement surgery, a
surgeon removes the damaged parts of the joint and inserts a
metal prosthesis.
 Other treatments
• Physical Therapy and Exercise.
• Many people with RA benefit from working with an experienced
physical therapist(PT).
Therapies that may help ease joint pain include:

•Joint protection techniques

•Heat and cold treatments
•Splints or orthotic devices to support and align joints
•Frequent rest periods between activities, as well as 8 to 10
hours of sleep per night
Prevention
• There is no known prevention.
• Smoking appears to worsen RA, so it is important to avoid
tobacco.
• Proper early treatment can help prevent further joint damage.
 References
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rheumatoid-arthritis

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000431.htm

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/rheumatoid-
arthritis#bhc-content

https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis.html
Thanks for listening