What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Written by Yang Ya Meng

Rheumatology

Updated on October 21, 2024

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The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are mainly classified into four categories,

First, environmental factors, such as living in dark, damp conditions for a long period, may trigger the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

Second, genetic factors, the probability of developing rheumatoid arthritis significantly increases if a parent has the condition.

Third, rheumatoid arthritis often relates to estrogen, thus it is more commonly seen in female patients clinically.

Fourth, rheumatoid arthritis is also associated with certain infections, including some viral and bacterial infections.

Other Voices

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Written by Yang Ya Meng

Rheumatology

56sec

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The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is primarily a degenerative joint disease, most commonly occurring in weight-bearing joints and the distal joints of both hands. Therefore, if there is pain in the distal joints of the hands or in joints like the knee, it may be osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints, and both wrists. It is also important to distinguish that in patients with osteoarthritis, inflammation indicators such as sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and endocrine factors are usually normal. However, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, these indicators, including sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor, are abnormally elevated.

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Written by Li Jing

Rheumatology

1min 10sec

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Does rheumatoid arthritis cause fever?

Rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as an autoimmune disease, primarily characterized by swelling and pain in multiple joints, particularly in the wrists or ankles. It also causes morning stiffness, and may be accompanied by fatigue, low fever, muscle soreness, and even weight loss. The onset of the disease is generally gradual for most people, and symptoms can vary significantly from one individual to another. A minority of patients may experience a rapid onset of symptoms, developing joint problems within days or weeks. Therefore, during the acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis, patients may experience a mild or moderate fever. However, it is important to differentiate whether this fever is due to an infection or the activity of the disease itself. This can be determined through regular blood tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, and related symptoms.

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Written by Li Jing

Rheumatology

50sec

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Does rheumatoid arthritis hurt?

Rheumatoid arthritis damages joints and bones, displaying as symmetrical polyarthritis. It is an autoimmune disease and a chronic condition that cannot be cured but can only be managed through medication to control disease progression. The primary symptoms include symmetrical pain and swelling in multiple joints, particularly in both wrists, therefore it is invariably associated with pain. Some individuals may also experience joint swelling accompanied by morning stiffness, fatigue, low fever, and weight loss. The onset of the disease is generally slow, although a few cases may have a sudden onset. It can also affect specific joints, such as the cervical spine, shoulder joints, and hip joints.

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Written by Li Jie

Orthopedics

1min 36sec

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The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

In everyday life, many patients confuse osteoarthritis with rheumatoid arthritis, but these two diseases are indeed very distinct. Generally speaking, osteoarthritis is mostly caused by hyperplastic arthritis due to trauma or, in some cases, osteoarthritis resulting from overuse, The characteristic of osteoarthritic pain is that it is related to activity. The more a joint affected by arthritis moves, and the greater the overuse, the more severe the pain becomes. When resting, the pain in that joint will decrease, However, rheumatoid arthritis is different and has clear distinctions from osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the small joints of the limbs, usually occurs symmetrically, and rarely affects only one limb. Once it occurs, it generally affects other parts too, appearing in both hands or both feet. These small joints are usually the first to be affected, with symptoms presenting symmetrically, and there is significant morning stiffness; that is, joints are stiff in the morning, Furthermore, rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain at rest or pain during inactivity, and nocturnal pain does not necessarily correlate with activity. Sometimes, pain may intensify after rest or during the night, and sometimes, physical activity may actually alleviate the pain. Thus, this symptom is a primary distinguishing feature from osteoarthritis. Understanding these points, the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can basically be mastered.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng

Rheumatology

51sec

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Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in the hand

The key hand features of rheumatoid arthritis primarily manifest as symmetrical joint swelling and pain in both hands in the early stages. These swollen and painful joints include both wrist joints, bilateral metacarpophalangeal joints, and bilateral proximal interphalangeal joints. Rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the distal interphalangeal joints of the hands. In the later stages of rheumatoid arthritis, due to the destruction of the hand joints by synovitis, some patients may develop deformities in the hand joints, commonly including ulnar deviation, swan neck deformities, or boutonniere deformities. Some patients may experience significant stiffness leading to limited mobility of the hand joints.