rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Typisches
Röntgenbild einer Rheumatoiden Arthritis.
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Rheumatoide
Arthritis der Hand. Zusätzlich Fingerfrakturen.
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Rheumatoide
Arthritis der HWS mit deutlicher Instabilität des Bandapparates: Der atlantodentale Abstand ist deutlich vermehrt und das Wirbelkörperalignement gestört mit einem über das physiologische Treppenphänomen deutlich hinausgehenden Versatz. Zudem lytische Veränderungen im Dens und sekundäre Verblockung HWK 5 / 6.
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X-ray of the
wrist of a 66 year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, showing ankylosing fusion of the carpal bones. Previous X-ray showed unaffected carpal bones - see File:Rheumatoid arthritis with unaffected carpal bones 2009.jpg.
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Shoulder
rheumatoid arthritis. Coronal T2-weighted fat saturated image: Multiple intraarticular loose bodies (“rice bodies”) hypointense on T2.
www.eurorad.org • CC by-nc-sa-4.0
Rheumatoide
Arthritis der Hand. Zusätzlich Fingerfrakturen.
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Image taken
from http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/arthritis/rahandout.htm en:he:תמונה:Rheumatoid arthritis joint.heb.GIF
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Postarthritisches
Os carpale bei einem 75 jährigen Mann. Es zeigt sich eine Ankylose der Karpalia, der Mittelhandknochen und wohl auch radio- und ulnokarpal. Gefäßkalk auf den Radius projiziert.
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X-ray of the
wrist of a 66 year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, showing ankylosing fusion of the carpal bones. Previous X-ray showed unaffected carpal bones - see File:Rheumatoid arthritis with unaffected carpal bones 2009.jpg.
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Rheumatoide
Arthritis mit ausgeprägten Osteolysen, Handgelenk, distale Ulna und Ellenbogengelenk
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Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune multisystemic inflammatory disease that affects many organs but predominantly attacks the synovial tissues and joints.

Epidemiology

The overall prevalence is 0.5-1% and the disease is 2-3 times more common in women .

Onset is generally in adulthood, peaking in the 4 and 5 decades. The pediatric condition, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is discussed separately.

Risk factors
  • smoking (seropositive RA)
  • obesity
  • low socioeconomic status 
Associations

Clinical presentation

Onset may be insidious or abrupt. Early features commonly include tiredness, malaise, and generalized aches. Arthritis symptoms typically first develop in the hands and wrists in a symmetric, proximal distribution. Feet and large joints may also be involved.

Pathology

Etiology is unknown but is probably multifactorial. It is generally considered that a genetic predisposition (HLA-DR B1 which is the most common allele of HLA-DR4 involved in rheumatoid arthritis) and an environmental trigger (Epstein-Barr virus postulated as a possible antigen, but not proven) lead to an autoimmune response that is directed against synovial structures and other organs.

Activation and accumulation of T CD4 cells in the synovium start a cascade of inflammatory responses which result in:

  • activation of the macrophages and synovial cells and production of cytokines such as IL4 and TNF, which in turn cause proliferation of the synovial cells and increase the production of destructive enzymes such as elastase and collagenase by macrophages
  • activating B cell lymphocytes to produce various antibodies including rheumatoid factor (RF-IgM antibodies against Fc portion of the IgG) which makes immune complexes that deposit in different tissues and contribute to further injury 
  • directly activate endothelial cells via increased production of VCAM1, which increases the adhesion and accumulation of inflammatory cells
  • producing RANKL which in turn activate osteoclasts causing subchondral bone destruction 

The inflammatory response leads to pannus formation. Pannus is an edematous thickened hyperplastic synovium infiltrated by lymphocytes T and B, plasmocytes, macrophages, and osteoclasts. Pannus will gradually erode bare areas initially, followed by the articular cartilage. It causes fibrous ankylosis which eventually ossifies .

Diagnostic criteria

Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical, radiographic, and serological criteria. The 2010 ACR - EULAR classification criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis has a maximal score of 10 and requires a score of >6 for a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis to be made:

  • joint involvement
    • 0: 1 large joint
    • 1: 2-10 large joints
    • 2: 1-3 small joints (with or without the involvement of large joints)
    • 3: 4-10 small joints (with or without the involvement of large joints)
    • 5: >10 joints (at least 1 small joint)
  • serology
    • 0: negative RF and negative anti-CCP
    • 2: low-positive RF or low-positive anti-CCP
    • 3: high-positive RF or high-positive anti-CCP
  • acute phase reactants
    • 0: normal CRP and normal ESR
    • 1: abnormal CRP and abnormal ESR
  • duration of symptoms
    • 0: <6 weeks
    • 1: >6 weeks

Non-musculoskeletal features of rheumatoid arthritis tend to occur late in the disease and include:

  • pulmonary involvement
    • disease may involve the interstitium, airway, and/or pleura
  • cardiovascular disease
    • accelerated coronary artery and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis contributing significantly to the excess mortality of RA
    • pericarditis
    • vasculitis: occurs more commonly with severe erosive disease, rheumatoid nodules, high RF titers
  • cutaneous involvement
    • rheumatoid nodules are usually seen in pressure areas: elbows, occiput, lumbosacral
    • occurs in RF-positive patients
  • ocular involvement
Markers

There are several serological markers for rheumatoid arthritis:

  • rheumatoid factor (RF): is an IgM antibody against FC portion of the IgG antibodies, and is a traditional marker but is non-specific; associated with several autoimmune and chronic infectious diseases
  • anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)/anti-citrullinated plasma antibody (ACPA): it is more than 80% sensitive and more than 95% specific
  • elevated CRP or ESR

Radiographic features

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal manifestations are the earliest and dominant features of rheumatoid arthritis.

For further details, please refer to musculoskeletal manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Respiratory

Pulmonary rheumatoid disease may involve the airway, interstitium, and/or pleura; a full description is available in respiratory manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abdominal

Splenomegaly may be seen as part of Felty syndrome, usually in long-standing rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is aimed at improving the symptoms and slowing disease progression. Therapy is with a combination of corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and TNF antagonists (e.g. etanercept) The anti-TNF treatments and variants, which suppress the immune system, are known collectively as biological therapies.

The disease carries a significant burden of disability. There is also a reduction in life expectancy, with excess mortality usually related to its non-articular manifestations .

History and etymology

Rheumatoid arthritis was a term first coined by British physician Sir Alfred Baring Garrod (1819-1907) in 1859 .

Differential diagnosis

Siehe auch:
und weiter:
Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu Rheumatoide Arthritis:
Vaskulitis
 
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Splenomegalie
 
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Perikarditis
 
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rheumatoide
Arthritis von Hand und Handgelenk
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pulmonale
Manifestationen rheumatoide Arthritis
insightsimaging.springeropen.com • CC-by-4.0
Juvenile
idiopathische Arthritis
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Rheumatoide
Arthritis Halswirbelsäule
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Rheumatoide
Arthritis Ellenbogen
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