ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory and degenerative lesions of the distal joints, frequently associated with multi-organ involvement. This disease affects just under 1% of the population and its etiology is complex; immunologic, genetic, and hormonal factors are thought to determine its development. RA waxes and wanes for many years, but the attacks progressively run into one another, setting the stage for the chronic form of the disease, which is associated with deformity and functional impairment.
