SUMMARY
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of arthritis. It is an inflammatory arthritis meaning it involves a lot of inflammation and not just mechanical pain like osteoarthritis. It typically affects young and middle-aged women though in older patients it is very common and is about evenly divided between men and women. The cause of RA is not known. Many theories exist. Most experts consider RA to be an autoimmune disease.

DIAGNOSIS
Blood tests help diagnose RA but no one test can diagnose or exclude RA conclusively. The diagnose is considered clinical meaning a doctor makes the diagnose based on a combination of history and physical along with lab and possibly x-rays. There are criteria for the diagnosis. This is mainly for research purposes but can be useful to assure a correct diagnosis.

WHAT TREATMENTS?
Although patients often inquire about diet and non-drug treatments for RA there is no lifestyle change that predictably subdues RA. There are now many medications that can control the pain and inflammation of RA and retard its usually destructive course. Though no one medicine regimen is right for all RA patients, with some trial and error, most patients with RA will find treatments that work.

OUTLOOK
Although the course of RA varies from person to person, for the most part, if left untreated, RA patients will have not only severe pain and stiffness, but eventually disability, distortion of joint integrity and loss of function. Much of this damage can occur within the first two years after symptoms start. But, with aggressive treatment in most patients this disease can be arrested.