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Rheumatoid arthritis	Rheumatoid arthritis	Rheumatoid arthritis	Synovial fluid
Rheumatoid arthritis

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

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Rheumatoid arthritis

Alternative Names

RA; Arthritis - rheumatoid

Symptoms

• Fatigue
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or malaise
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Joint pain, joint stiffness, and joint swelling -- often on both sides of the body
• Joint pain may include wrist pain, knee pain, elbow pain, finger pain, toe pain, ankle pain, or neck pain
• Limited range of motion
• Morning stiffness lasting more than one hour
• Deformities of hands and feet
• Round, painless nodules under the skin
• Skin redness or inflammation
• Paleness
• Swollen glands
• Eye burning, itching, and discharge
• Numbness or tingling

Exams and Tests

• Joint x-rays
• Rheumatoid factor test is positive in about 75% of people with symptoms
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated
• CBC may show low hematocrit (anemia) or abnormal platelet counts
• C-reactive protein may be a positive indication for patients with no detectable rheumatoid factor
• Synovial fluid analysis

Review Date: 9/30/2004
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Stanford Peng, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (4/27/2004)

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