Rheumatoid arthritis: a case study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, progressively deteriorating, connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joints, pain, immobility, and fatigue. Exacerbations of RA are frequently associated with periods of physical and/or emotional stress. It is estimated that 1 in every 100 persons throughout the world suffers from RA. In the United States, women have 2 to 3 times the incidence rate of men, with no significant radical differences noted between Caucasians and African-Americans. In this article a case study format is used to provide information pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of the adult RA patient.