PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF JOINTS - LESSON 227
In this post we will learn some more pathological conditions in the Musculoskeletal system. Rheumatoid arthritis:- This is a chronic disease in which joints become painful and inflamed. It is believed to be caused by an immune reaction and this reaction is against joint tissues and in which the small joints of the hands and feet are affected first and the larger joints later. Women are generally affected than men. Damaging the articular cartilage and stopping easy movements happen in synovial membranes which become thickened and inflamed. In some of the cases this fibrous forms of tissues calcify creating a bony ankylosis, which is the union or combination at the joint and stopping any movement at all. Swollen and painful joints associations with fever are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Blood test when taken will show the presence of rheumatoid factor of an antibody and x-rays will show persisting changes around the joints which are affected by the disease. The treatment also