Definition
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which mainly peripheral joints are inflamed. The principal characteristics are pain, swelling, and redness (due to increased bloodflow) of joints. There is also overgrowth of the synovial tissue by pannus. Marked destruction of cartilage and bone may occur result in deformities of joints. The disease affects about 1 % of the population. Pathologic processes may also be present outside joints.
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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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(2013). Rheumatoid Arthritis. In: Gebhart, G.F., Schmidt, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_201937
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_201937
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-28752-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-28753-4
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