IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-8-6-19530 Original Research Paper RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – A CONCISED REVIEW Arumugam Dr. Dr. Sahanaz Praveen Ahmed Dr. June 2019 8 6 01 02 ABSTRACT

“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease that is associated with progressive disability, systemic complications, early death, and socioeconomic costs”. RA is an inflammatory disease chronic in nature with lining inflammation involving, T and B lymphocytes, fibroblasts, dendritic cells, macrophages and chondrocytes which subsequently cause destruction of the adjacent bone and cartilage. The disease affects primarily the synovial joints, causing pain, deformity and eventually limitation of function leading to substantial morbidity and accelerated mortality. It is basically a multifactorial disease which happens when other risk factors occurs simultaneously. RA requires life–long medications and treatments. The radiological damage occurs even before diagnosis. “Disease modifying anti–rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)” is biological – response modifying drugs which have been proved to reduce the disease progression. Combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy. Inadequately treated RA is allied with rise in death.