Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of undetermined etiology involving primarily the synovial membranes and articular structures of multiple joints. The disease is often progressive and re sults in pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints. In late stages, deformity and ankylosis develop. Women are affected more than men, with a female: male ratio of 3:1; the disease onset reaches its apex between 35 and 50 years.