Rheumatoid Awareness Day, initiated by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation, is held every year on February 2, to raise awareness for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints. The joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis is mediated by cytokines, chemokines and metalloproteinases. Symmetric peripheral arthritis (e.g., wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints) is the main feature of rheumatoid arthritis, with progressive destruction of affected joint structures and often associated with systemic symptoms. Diagnosis relies on specific clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and imaging features. Treatment includes medications, functional exercises, and sometimes surgery. Anti-rheumatic drugs that improve the condition help control symptoms and slow disease progression.

Rheumatoid arthritis is distributed worldwide, with a prevalence of 0.1% to 1.9% in different populations. Rheumatic disease has become a major disease that causes labor loss. But in fact, joint disease is not terrible, as long as early detection, early treatment, and the use of correct medical methods, patients with rheumatoid disease can completely recover.

Diagnosis

Clinical criteria

Ø  Serum rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP antibodies), ESR or C-reactive protein (CRP)

Ø  X-rays

Many diseases can have similar manifestations to rheumatoid arthritis, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), nodular disease, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and hepatitis C-associated arthritis. RF is not specific and can also be present in some other autoimmune diseases; anti-CCP antibodies are more specific for rheumatoid arthritis. For example, in hepatitis C-associated arthritis, the clinical picture is similar to that of RA, and RF can be positive, but anti-CCP antibodies are negative.

Treatment

Ø  Supportive treatment (e.g., smoking cessation, nutrition, rest, physical therapy, and pain management)

Ø  Anti-rheumatic drugs to improve condition

Ø  NSAIDs for analgesia as needed

Treatment includes a balance of rest and exercise, adequate nutrition, physical therapy and medication, and sometimes surgery.

YHLO provides rheumatoid arthritis screening on the chemiluminescence (CLIA) platform, and also provides a series of autoimmune disease screening programs such as systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. YHLO also has an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) platform to jointly assist the early accurate screening and treatment monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis.