Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by an intriguing symmetrical inflammatory polyarthritis. While the cause of this autoimmune disease remains unknown, advances in understanding disease pathogenesis have led to improvements in early diagnosis and targeted treatment. Treatment has advanced considerably since the 1980s, and there currently are many effective agents that minimize joint inflammation, prevent bone erosions, and improve the functional ability of people affected with the disease. For most patients, RA remains a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment. Future research will focus on developing more effective therapy for sustaining remission and increasing availability of therapies.