Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System 2025

Inflamed & Unseen: The Truth About Rheumatoid Arthritis - Team 24

Media Type: Infographic

Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects the joints. In an autoimmune disease, the body attacks itself, which can result in inflammation and pain. In the case of RA, it results in pain in the joints. Due to the inflammation associated with RA, there are many complications that can arise from this disease outside of just the joints. These include cardiovascular disease, lung disease, osteoporosis and more. Treatments for RA focus on reducing inflammation, slowing the progression of the disease, and relieving pain.

Our assignment includes a broad overview of RA. It includes the symptoms, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, complications, treatment, information on living with RA and advances in current research. This provides a broad overview of RA as a disease and how it relates more specifically to inflammation and autoimmune topics. It is in the format of an infographic because it allows a learner to decide how much information they want to have on RA. A student trying to learn all about RA can read all sections to have a full understanding of the disease. But a student who already has knowledge of the disease can read just one or two sections to have a review on the topics they need.

Some of the complex language that a reader should understand include:
HLA-DRB1: a gene critical for immune system function
Synovium: a membrane that lines the joint space
Synoviocytes: cells that create the synovium
TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) - a cytokine that is involved in synovial inflammation
IL-1 (Interleukin 1) - inflammatory cytokine
IL-6 (Interleukin 6) - inflammatory cytokine
ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) - unstable forms of oxygen that damages intracellular
contents and can cause cell damage/death

Keywords: Autoimmune, Inflammation, Musculoskeletal, Cytokines, Antibodies, Research