Rheumatoid arthritis is chronic multi-systemic disease characterized by inflammatory and painful swelling, restricted in women and irreversible deformability.

It is auto-immune disease. 1% of world population is affected by RA. It is commonly found between the age of 40-50 years.

It is auto-immune disease probably due to endocrine imbalance, climate hypersensitivity reaction and probably infection. It is multi-factorial disease that is infectious agent, genetic susceptibility, auto-immune mechanism, non-specific inflammation.

RA occurs in immunogenetically predisposing individual to the effect of microbile agent acting as a trigger antigen. The role of super antigen which are produced by several micro-organisms with capacity to bind to HLA-DR molecule has also emerged.

RA usually affects joints symmetrically. (on both sides equally) May initially begin in couple of joints only and most frequently attach the wrist, hand, elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle.

ESR increases. Serum RA factor. (Normal less than 30 I.U. per ml) Positive in 80% called seropositive RA. Negative in 20% called as seronegative RA.