Rheumatoid arthritis
"A patient with rheumatoid arthritis receives anti-TNFalpha treatment"
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the commonest forms of arthritis. It can affect anyone, from childhood to old age, but most commonly starts in people in their thirties or forties.
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA for short) the lining of the joints becomes inflamed and this can cause pain, swelling and stiffness. If the joints stay inflamed for a long time this can result in joint damage.
RA is a disease which varies a great deal from person to person. In some people many joints are affected, but in some people only a few. Some people only get occasional episodes of joint inflammation. More commonly people have “flare-ups” of inflammation in their joints with quieter periods in between. A few people have arthritis which becomes progressively worse.
At present there isn’t a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but treatment is improving all the time. In recent years it has become clear that early treatment is more effective and can help prevent joint damage.
Each patient has different needs and each patient’s rheumatoid arthritis is different. Because of this, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital we have a team of health professionals working together to try to provide the best treatment for each patient. Many patients will need drugs to control their rheumatoid arthritis but treatment may also include physiotherapy, help with taking care of joints, and sometimes surgery.
Because rheumatoid arthritis is common and can be disabling a great deal of research is being carried out worldwide into its causes and treatment. The rheumatology department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital is at the forefront of this research, particularly in trials of new drug treatments.
Click on the picture to link to the ARC booklet which will tell you much more about rheumatoid arthritis.
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