Things You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a stubborn disease recognized by the medical community. It is a highly aggressive and devastating disease that can invade joints, heart, skin, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys and other organs. This article will introduce symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of RA.

• RA: An Autoimmune Disease

Unlike osteoarthritis, which is a common joint inflammation that is accompanied by aging and joint aging, RA is an autoimmune disease, and joint wear and stretching will not directly lead to RA. Actually, RA is caused by inflammation caused by an imbalance of the autoimmune system, accompanied by joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and other discomfort symptoms that affect the body's organs.?

The main pathological feature of RA is the inflammatory infiltration of a large number of plasma cells, macrophages and lymphocytes in the synovium, and the inflammatory erosion and damage of the synovial tissue to cartilage, tendons, and bone. A large number of studies in recent years have shown that the onset of RA may be an antigen-driven pathological process. Infection, molecular simulation, and autoimmune response are the central links in the onset and prolongation of RA, while genetic, endocrine, and environmental factors increase the susceptibility of it.

• Symptoms of RA

Compared with young patients, of whom the finger is where the pain first appears. Older patients are more likely to have symptoms in large joints such as elbows and knees. However, almost all patients will have pain in the proximal interphalangeal joints and metacarpophalangeal joints, as well as the proximal interphalangeal joints and toe-toe joints of the toes, and ankles. If there is pain in one joint and pain in the same position on the opposite side, RA is likely to be the cause.

Sometimes the joints of the jaw joint and cervical spine also have symptoms. The stiffness and pain of the joints will be affected by the season, weather, and air pressure. If the weather continues to be nice and warm with low humidity, the symptoms will relieve. On the contrary, if the air pressure drops, the temperature gets low, or it rains, the symptoms will be aggravated.

• Diagnosis and Treatment of RA

If the doctor suspects that you have RA based on the symptoms you described and the results of the preliminary examination, you may need to perform the following further tests: blood test, urine test, C-reactive protein test, biochemical tests (liver, kidney Function, immunoglobulin, complement, etc.), rheumatoid factor IgM (RF-IgM), cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) antibody, joint X-ray, etc.

Based on today’s technology, RA cannot be completely cured, but can only be relieved, requiring life-long treatment. Thus the purpose of RA treatment is to control the condition, improve joint function and prognosis. The treatment methods include general treatment, drug therapy, and surgical treatment, of which drug therapy is the most important. Surgical treatment includes joint replacement and synovectomy.

Creative Biolabs has established advanced complement therapeutics platform including antibody engineering platform, protease inhibitor platform, and drug discovery platform, and is equipped to offer a full range of biotherapeutics development services regarding complement therapeutics for RA. With the development of medical research, treatments for extra-articular lesions and new therapies for RA continue to appear, which has significantly improved the prognosis of RA, and most patients' conditions can be better controlled or even completely relieved.

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