What Are Common Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Dr. Ali Askari answers the question: 'Common Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis?'

ByABC News
April 1, 2008, 5:51 PM

— -- Question: What are common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer: Well, rheumatoid arthritis is the prototype of all inflammatory arthritic problems. The difference between rheumatoid, let's say, and osteoarthritis is that in rheumatoid arthritis most joints are inflamed rather than just being painful and they are stiff. And the entire body gets involved in the process of arthritis, because from the inflamed joints there are materials released in the body called cytokines that cause fatigue, fever and stiffness in the entire body. And that's what really makes the rheumatoid a specific type and very serious type of arthritis.

Next: How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed, And What Are The Most Common Tests Used In The Process?

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