Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's
immune system attacks itself. The pattern of joints affected is
usually symmetrical, involves the hands and other joints and is
worse in the morning. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a systemic
disease, involving other body organs, whereas osteoarthritis is
limited to the joints. Over time, both forms of arthritis can be
crippling.
Review Date: 05/29/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
