This is the best, short explanations of the effects of RA on the body, and the disease mechanism that I have run across. It appears to be meant for doctors (maybe to show their patients?) but it is an excellent presentation for anyone who wants to know more about the nuts & bolts of why these things are happening to our bodies (and minds - there's a physiological explanation for the mood/depression that often comes along for the ride - it's NOT incidental, or a REACTION to RA, it's part of the same deal.
It has some new info that I was not aware of about how RA causes 'extra-articular' - i.e., non-joint problems, from the cardiovascular to moods, and that the level of IL-6, a 'cytokine" (there's a glossary too) is more indicative of inflammation in the body than even C-reactive protein or TNF. Interesting ... front-line research!
The website is by Roche, a pharmaceutical company, but it's upfront, straightforward and the explanations are not drug ads (refreshing!). But there is info about clinical trials there related to tociluzimab, (not sure I've spelled that right!) if you're interested.
It also confirms that osteoporosis is connected to RA - which my rheumatologist denied but I knew he was wrong! Now I have a source!
Read and learn ... about IL-6 and RA at
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