Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disorder that manifests as a symmetric polyarthritis of small and large joints that may lead to joint and periarticular structural damage and the consequences of systemic inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis an be deadly. Many studies have shown that patients with RA live 6 to 11 fewer years than people without RA. This is especially true in women, those with seropositive RA, and those with active or recalcitrant RA. Patients with RA are at greater risk to develop the following:  Functional impairment and disability.  Serious infections: Pneumonia is the number one cause of infectious death in RA. This risk is largely driven by:

  • The severity of RA.
  • Steroid use (glucocorticoids are acutely wonderful, but they are chronically hazardous).
  • Breakdown of skin.

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