II. Pearls

  1. See Rheumatoid Arthritis Prediction Rule for Undifferentiated Arthritis
  2. History and Examination are most important
    1. Symmetric involvement
    2. Morning stiffness and gelling
    3. Hand and wrist (esp. MCP joints) involvement
    4. Shaking hands is painful (withdraws hand on squeeze)
    5. Characteristics of onset
      1. Onset over weeks to months
      2. Prodromal symptoms of Anorexia, weakness, Fatigue
      3. Usually starts in one joint
  3. Lab and x-ray add little help in diagnosis
    1. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) may be normal
    2. C-Reactive Protein may be normal
    3. Rheumatoid Factor may be normal
    4. X-Ray may be normal

III. Indications: Evaluation for Rheumatoid Arthritis

  1. At least one joint with definite clinical synovitis or swelling and
  2. Synovitis not better explained by another condition

IV. Criteria: ACR/EULAR Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Criteria (2010)

  1. Joint Involvement
    1. Large joints: Shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles
    2. Small joints: MTP, PIP, DIP and wrists
    3. Points 0: One large joint involved
    4. Points 1: Two to ten large joints involved
    5. Points 2: One to three small joints involved (with or without large joint involvement)
    6. Points 3: Four to ten small joints involved (with or without large joint involvement)
    7. Points 5: More than 10 joints involved (with at least one small joint involved)
  2. Serology (Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody)
    1. Points 0: RF negative and ACPA negative
    2. Points 2: Low positive RF or ACPA
    3. Points 3: High positive RF or ACPA
  3. Acute Phase Reactants (C-Reactive Protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
    1. Points 0: Normal C-RP and ESR
    2. Points 1: Abnormal C-RP or ESR
  4. Duration of symptoms
    1. Points 0: Less than 6 weeks
    2. Points 1: Six weeks or more

V. Interpretation

  1. Total score (four components above are added)
    1. Score of 6 or greater is needed for definitive diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Ontology: Rheumatoid Arthritis (C0003873)

Definition (MEDLINEPLUS)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers.

More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts in middle age and is most common in older people. But children and young adults can also get it. You might have the disease for only a short time, or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime.

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from your immune system attacking your body's own tissues.

No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. Genes, environment and hormones might contribute. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery. These can slow or stop joint damage and reduce pain and swelling.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) An autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, and may cause severe joint damage, loss of function, and disability. The disease may last from months to a lifetime, and symptoms may improve and worsen over time.
Definition (NCI) A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.
Definition (MSH) A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.
Definition (CSP) chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures; etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D001172
ICD9 714.0
ICD10 M06.9 , M06.99
SnomedCT 156471009, 287010008, 156481008, 69896004
LNC LP30644-6, LA15161-5
English Arthritis, Rheumatoid, ARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, SUSCEPTIBILITY TO, Rheumatoid arthritis NOS, rheumatoid arthritis, RA (rheumatoid arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosis), R arthritis, Rh arthritis, Arthritis rheumatoid, Systemic rheumatoid arthritis, RA, Arthritis, Rheumatoid [Disease/Finding], Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified, site unspecified, rheumatoid arthritis systemic, gout rheumatic, proliferative arthritis, atrophic arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis NOS (disorder), ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID, Rheumatoid arthritis, Atrophic arthritis, Chronic rheumatic arthritis, Rheumatic gout, RA - Rheumatoid arthritis, RhA - Rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatoid disease, Rheumatoid arthritis (disorder), atrophic; arthritis, rheumatoid; arthritis, arthritis; atrophic, arthritis; rheumatoid, Atrophic Arthritis, Arthritis or polyarthritis, atrophic, Arthritis or polyarthritis, rheumatic
Portuguese ARTRITE REUMATOIDE, Artrite reactiva reumatóide, Artrite atrófica, Artrite reumatóide sistémica, Artrite Reumatoide, Artrite reumatóide
Spanish ARTRITIS REUMATOIDE, Artritis reumatoide sistémica, Artritis R, Artritis Re, Artritis atrófica, AR, Artritis Reumatoidea, artritis reumatoide, SAI, Rheumatoid arthritis NOS, artritis reumatoide, SAI (trastorno), artritis atrófica, artritis reumatoide (trastorno), artritis reumatoide, artritis reumática crónica, gota reumática, Artritis reumatoide, Artritis Reumatoide
Dutch systemische reumatoïde artritis, atrofische artritis, RA, reumatische artritis, artritis; atrofisch, artritis; reumatoïd, atrofisch; artritis, reumatoïd; artritis, Reumatoïde artritis, niet gespecificeerd, reumatoïde artritis, Artritis, reumatoïde, Reumatoïde artritis
French Arthrite d, Arthrite rhumatoïde systémique, AR, Polyarthrite rh, ARTHRITE RHUMATOIDE, Polyarthrite rhumatismale, PCE (Polyarthrite Chronique Évolutive), Polyarthrite chronique évolutive, Polyarthrite rhumatoïde, PR (Polyarthrite Rhumatoïde)
German systemische rheumatische Arthritis, atrophische Arthritis, Rh Arthritis, RA, R Arthritis, ARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID, Chronische Polyarthritis, nicht naeher bezeichnet, rheumatoide Arthritis, Arthritis, rheumatoide, Rheumatoide Arthritis, PcP (Primär-chronische Polyarthritis), Polyarthritis, primär chronische, Primär-chronische Polyarthritis
Italian Artrite reumatoide sistemica, AR, Artrite atrofica, Artrite reumatoide
Japanese 全身性関節リウマチ, イシュクセイカンセツエン, ゼンシンセイカンセツリウマチ, カンセツリウマチ, 関節リウマチ, 萎縮性関節炎, リウマチ様関節炎, 慢性関節リウマチ, 関節リウマチ-慢性, 関節炎-リウマチ様
Swedish Ledgångsreumatism
Czech polyartritida progresivní, Systémová revmatoidní artritida, Revmatoidní artritida, Atrofická artritida, artritida revmatoidní, revmatoidní artritida
Finnish Nivelreuma
Russian ARTRIT REVMATOIDNYI, ARTRIT INFEKTSIONNYI NESPETSIFICHESKII, POLIARTRIT REVMATOIDNYI, АРТРИТ ИНФЕКЦИОННЫЙ НЕСПЕЦИФИЧЕСКИЙ, АРТРИТ РЕВМАТОИДНЫЙ, ПОЛИАРТРИТ РЕВМАТОИДНЫЙ
Korean 상세불명의 류마티스 관절염
Croatian ARTRITIS, REUMATOIDNI
Polish Zapalenie stawów reumatoidalne, Gościec przewlekły postępujący, RZS, Reumatoidalne zapalenie stawów, Gościec pierwotnie przewlekły, Zapalenie gośćcowe
Hungarian RA (rheumatoid arthritis), Rheumatoid arthritis, Atrophiás arthritis, R arthritis, Rh arthritis, Systemás rheumatoid arthritis
Norwegian Artritt, revmatoid, Leddgikt, Revmatoid artritt