Rheumatoid Arthritis
Musculoskeletal · ~8% of blueprint- Pathophysiology
- Autoimmune synovial inflammation (pannus) → symmetric erosive polyarthritis.
- Signs & Symptoms
- Symmetric small-joint pain/swelling (MCP, PIP, wrists), morning stiffness >1 h, fatigue; spares the DIP.
- Gold Standard Diagnosis
- No gold-standard test: clinical dx + RF/anti-CCP (anti-CCP more specific), ↑ESR/CRP, erosions
- First-line Treatment
- Early DMARD — methotrexate monotherapy first-line (moderate-high); biologic if not at target; steroids not routine.
High-Yield Pearl
Anti-CCP is the most specific antibody; start DMARDs early to prevent joint erosion.
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Gross Anatomy
Immunology & Genetics
Physiology
Sources
Reviewed September 2026- 2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis — American College of Rheumatology, 2021
- StatPearls: Rheumatoid Arthritis — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf, 2026
- StatPearls: Hand and Wrist Rheumatoid Arthritis — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf, 2026
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