rheumatoid arthritis

noun, Pathology
1.
a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, frequently accompanied by marked deformities, and ordinarily associated with manifestations of a general, or systemic, affliction.
Origin
1855-60
Examples from the web for rheumatoid arthritis
  • Cortisone is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and physostigmine to treat glaucoma.
  • But sometimes rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or another malady strikes one twin and not the other.
  • The third study held implications not only for heart disease but possibly for such ailments as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
  • Too many rheumatoid arthritis patients inactive, study finds.
  • The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis involves medications and lifestyle changes.
  • rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks joints and other tissues.
  • The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unknown.
  • rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and pain in the joints.
  • People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis may see an improvement in their condition if they quit smoking, a new study has found.
  • He was an early expert in the causes and molecular mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis and similar diseases.
British Dictionary definitions for rheumatoid arthritis

rheumatoid arthritis

noun
1.
a chronic disease of the musculoskeletal system, characterized by inflammation and swelling of joints (esp joints in the hands, wrists, knees, and feet), muscle weakness, and fatigue
rheumatoid arthritis in Medicine

rheumatoid arthritis n.
A chronic and progressive systemic disease, especially common in women, characterized by stiffness and inflammation of the joints and sometimes leading to deformity and disability. Also called arthritis deformans.

rheumatoid arthritis in Science
rheumatoid arthritis
  (r'mÉ™-toid')   
A chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive arthritis of several small or medium-sized joints, especially in the hands. Symptoms can include morning stiffness, joint swelling and weakness, and deformity and disability.