What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Author: Alex Trenor
Website: http://www.arthritistip.com
Added: Sat, Jul 1, 2006 13:53:13
Category: Arthritis Questions
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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Normally, cells called antibodies, which are produced by the body’s immune system, attack foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. With autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakes the person’s own tissue as foreign and attacks it.
With rheumatoid arthritis, the antibodies attack the membranes around the joints and cause swelling, pain and stiffness. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis can cause deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation in the sheaths around the tendons, the one that join muscles to bones.
See also: Arthritis | Rheumatoid Arthritis About the Author:
Alex Trenor answers frequently asked arthritis questions at PrettyGreatAnswers.com.
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