ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory and degenerative lesions of the distal joints, frequently associated with multiorgan involvement. The chapter begins with a discussion of the clinical presentation of RA and the pathological processes responsible for the clinical symptoms. The role of autoantibodies in RA is discussed in detail, with reference to their diagnostic application and pathogenic role. This is followed by a discussion of genetic and immunological factors that have been identified as having a significant role in the predisposition to develop RA and its subsequent pathological processes resulting in the characteristic tissue damage in synovial membrane. This section is followed by a summary overview of the pathogenesis of RA and by a section summarizing the therapeutic approaches to RA, from anti-inflammatory drugs to disease-modifying agents and biological response modifiers.
