While rheumatoid arthritis (RA) primarily affects the joints, it is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect many organs throughout the body.
RA is characterized by chronic inflammation, and although the joints are the primary target, this inflammation can spread to other parts of the body.
Organs Potentially Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Here's a more detailed breakdown of the organs that can be affected:
- Joints: The most common and well-known target. RA causes inflammation of the synovial membrane lining the joints, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and ultimately, joint damage and deformity. Common areas affected include hands, wrists, feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, and elbows.
- Lungs: RA can cause lung inflammation (pleuritis), scarring (pulmonary fibrosis), and other lung diseases.
- Heart: RA increases the risk of heart disease, including pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), and coronary artery disease.
- Skin: RA can cause rheumatoid nodules (lumps under the skin, typically near joints) and other skin manifestations.
- Nerves: RA can cause nerve damage, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain, particularly if nerves are compressed by swollen joints.
- Muscles: Muscle weakness and pain can occur, both as a direct effect of RA and indirectly due to inactivity caused by joint pain.
- Blood Vessels: RA can cause vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), which can affect any organ in the body.
- Kidneys: Kidney damage can occur, sometimes as a result of RA itself, but more commonly as a side effect of medications used to treat RA.
- Eyes: RA can cause inflammation of the eyes, leading to dryness, pain, and vision problems (e.g., scleritis, uveitis).
Therefore, while the joints are the primary area of impact, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease capable of affecting various organs.
