Thrombocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) usually correlate with the rheumatoid disease activity rather than disease severity. These laboratory tests are thus of some value in…
Ocular Changes. About 30% patients with rheumatoid arthritis have features of Sjögren syndrome, called secondary Sjögren syndrome. Keratoconjunctivitis is commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Granulomatous scleritis occurs less often but…
IMMUNOLOGIC FEATURES The serum of most patients with rheumatoid arthritis contains immunoglobulins, or antibodies. The autoantibodies to gamma globulin (IgG) are called rheumatoid factors. The latex fixation tests commonly used…
EXTRA-ARTICULAR MANIFESTATIONS Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic illness, not just a disease of the joints, and thus has a variety of nonarticular, or extra-articular, manifestations (see Plates 5-6 and 5-7)….
FOOT INVOLVEMENT Joint involvement in the foot resembles that in the hand, except for deformities that are determined chiefly by the foot’s weight-bearing function (see Plate 5-4). The toes usually…
EARLY AND MODERATE HAND INVOLVEMENT The joints of the hands and wrists are among the most frequent sites of involvement (see Plate 5-2). In the fingers, some or all of…
As the disease becomes more chronic, fibroblasts infiltrate the inflamed joint capsule, which becomes thickened and boggy. The pannus progresses, causing more destruction and joint deformity. The progressive inflammation causes…
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) are the most common forms of arthritis. Both of these chronic conditions are characterized by pain, stiffness, restricted joint motion, joint…
Surgical reconstruction is indicated if it can improve function (and possibly yield cosmetic benefit) without subjecting the patient to many operations. Surgery should be undertaken as early as possible. The…
Constriction bands are more likely to involve the distal part of the limb, especially the hand and foot. The central digits are usually affected; severe acrosyndactyly is rare in the…
