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Friday, March 2, 2012

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis-What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a personal disease based non-suppurative inflammation of the joints and joints surrounding tissue, often accompanied by extra-articular disease symptoms, it is called rheumatoid arthritis. Intra-articular synovitis, exudate, cell proliferation, granuloma formation, cartilage and bone destruction, the last ankylosis and dysfunction. Often used traditional Chinese medicine with conservative treatment such as the use of externally bonded drugs for treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis - an overview of diseaseRheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a joint synovitis is characterized by chronic, systemic autoimmune autoimmune diseases. Recurrent synovitis lasting, can lead to the destruction of joint cartilage and bone, joint dysfunction, and even disability. Vasculitis lesions involving various organs of the body, the disease also known as rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment: as yet no effective therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis, still remain in the treatment of inflammation and its sequelae, comprehensive treatment, most patients are able to get a certain effect. The purpose of the current treatment is:
① control the inflammation of the joints and other organizations, to relieve symptoms;
② preserve joint function and prevent deformity;
(3) to repair damaged joints to relieve pain and restore function.
(A) general therapy: fever, joint pain, systemic symptoms to those who should rest in bed until symptoms disappeared. Until the condition should improve after two weeks and gradually increase their activities to avoid too long in bed lead to joint disuse, and even promote ankylosis. Protein and various vitamins in the diet should be sufficient, anemia significantly to a small amount of blood transfusion, if the chronic lesions, such as tonsillitis patients' health conditions permit, as soon as possible removed.
(B) drug treatment.
(C) treatments.
(D) surgical treatment.
(E) traditional Chinese medicine.
Rheumatoid arthritis - symptoms and signsThe slow onset of symptoms, more than the first weeks to months, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, poor appetite, fever and numbness, tingling and other prodromal symptoms.
A joint symptoms:
(1) of morning stiffness: a joint symptoms often appear before joint pain. Joint stiffness, pain and discomfort started its activities, joint activities increased morning stiffness is lessened or disappeared. Joint morning stiffness morning, afternoon reduced.
(2) joint swelling and pain: mostly symmetry, often invading the metacarpophalangeal joints, wrist, shoulder, interphalangeal joint, ankle and knee. Joints red, swollen, hot, pain, movement disorder.
2, articular manifestations: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic part of the performance or its complications. Joint disease of the disease can be disabling, but not fatal. Articular manifestations are often the cause of death in this disease.
(1) rheumatoid nodules: seen in 15 to 20% of patients, more common in the forearm, often under pressure, stretch side, such as the ulnar and olecranon at. Palpable in the subcutaneous soft amorphous Summary of activities or in the periosteum of the rubber-like summary. Serum rheumatoid factor positive subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules more common.
(2) rheumatoid vasculitis: rheumatoid vasculitis is the basic lesion of the disease, joints and periarticular organizations, other Department of the body can occur vasculitis. Performance Remote vasculitis, skin ulcers, peripheral neuropathy, pericarditis, visceral arteritis, such as heart, lung, intestine, spleen, pancreas, kidney, lymph nodes and testis.
(3) in rheumatic heart disease: cardiac involvement, myocardial, valvular ring or aortic root class rheumatic granuloma formation, or myocardial endocardium and valve ring lymphocyte infiltration or fibrosis.
(4) rheumatoid lung disease: chronic fibrous pneumonia is more common in the pulmonary vascular fibrinoid necrosis and infiltration of mononuclear cells, fever, difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain.
(5), kidney damage.
(6), ocular manifestations: uveitis is common lesions of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, adult rheumatoid arthritis is a common cause of keratitis.
(7) Felty syndrome: a severe rheumatoid arthritis, a common cause of splenomegaly, neutropenia, positive rate of serum rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies.
(8), Sjogren's syndrome: a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Mainly affects the lacrimal gland, and the size of the salivary glands, resulting in reduced or lack of glandular destruction and secretion, the clinical manifestations of dry eye and oral mucosa disease group.
(9) gastrointestinal damage.
Introduction to rheumatism refers toEarly morning stiffness: rheumatoid arthritis patients, is often manifested in the morning fingers are stiff gradually ease the sense of economic activities. With the development of pain, morning stiffness and heavier and heavier, longer and longer duration, more than one hour.
Cold: the patient fingers is particularly sensitive to cold, a case of cold water is very white, purple, numbness, formication, or even pain. The cold tip of finger arterial
Cramps, medicine called Raynaud's phenomenon.
Proximal: Rheumatoid arthritis is the best site for the proximal (near the trunk side) interphalangeal joints, metacarpophalangeal joints may be violated, but in no way infringe upon the distal interphalangeal joint. There are many non-specialists often a good proliferative arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint, or even Kashin-Beck disease misdiagnosed as rheumatoid.
Ulnar deviation: the thumb side means the side of the little finger side of the ulnar. Early rheumatoid you can see finger to ulnar deviation, normal is mostly slightly to refer to lateral deflection, especially the little finger is most apparent.
Muscle wilt: rheumatoid arthritis, an early stage often has a phalanx of muscle atrophy, the formation of the so-called medical "Clostridium" "bean the Link eggplant-shaped" change with the enlargement of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
Color Shen: dorsal lesions interphalangeal joint, often see the pigmentation and hair Gampsocleis (black) color. At the same time, the local skin can be presented keratosis and thickening.
Symmetry: Rheumatoid arthritis refers to the salient features of the joint damage was symmetrical for both hands. Sometimes early only to see the middle finger proximal joint swelling, but should also be a symmetry of left and right middle finger injury, but rarely unilateral, which is common in traumatic arthritis, and tuberculous arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis - etiology and pathogenesisAt present, many believe that the disease is an autoimmune disease, the initiating factor is not clear, may be the infectious agent (such as viruses, mycoplasma, or bacteria, etc.) into the human body, which contains certain ingredients (such as oligosaccharides or sugar Peptide Fragments) intake was intra-articular synovial cells and the combination of proteoglycan synthesis by synovial cells, and its structure changed with antigen. This antigen not only allows the body to produce antibodies (IgG), also lead to the Fc fragment of the IgG molecule structure change, the formation of new epitopes, which stimulate the formation of another antibody, that is, rheumatoid factor (RF). RF the most important ingredients in the serum IgM and also IgG, IgA, and IgE. IgM-RF to meet with the 85% to 95% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, is an important indicator of the clinical diagnosis. Various immunoglobulin types of RF and IgG immune complexes are present in the blood circulation. RF and immunoglobulin synthesis of intra-articular and combine to form immune complexes, circulating RF-IgG complexes can also be deposited in the local tissue, which is closely associated with the organs and tissues of the joints and extra-articular lesions. The RF-IgG complexes in the synovial membrane can be fixed and the activation of complement, generation of C3a and C5a to attract neutrophils and monocytes exudation. Neutrophils, monocytes and synovial cells (type A cells) swallowed the immune complexes, activated and the synthesis and release of lysosomal enzymes, including neutral protease, collagenase, and a variety of media, such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, IL-1, etc., resulting in the destruction of the synovial membrane and articular cartilage. IL-1 is the main medium of rheumatoid arthritis, generated by activated macrophages and synovial cells. Of IL-1 allows the synovial cells and cartilage cells to synthesize and release collagenase and other proteolytic enzymes, and inhibition of chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis in itself is an osteoclast activating factor. Is not only the RF, immunoglobulin and complement in the synovial membrane, but also by synovial B cells and plasma cells by immunofluorescence and organizational culture. Even in the initial factor (such as the infectious agent) has ceased to exist, RF continues to produce, resulting in inflammatory lesions is a recurring problem, a chronic inflammation.
The results show that, in addition to the above humoral immune factors of the disease and cellular immunity is also closely related to. With synovitis into a chronic, T cells and plasma cells increased significantly, which is the T4 helper cells. Synergy T4 and B cells, involved in RF and immunoglobulin synthesis of synovial HLA-DR positive macrophages and dendritic cells increase with T4 interaction with the immune mechanisms of joint damage.
On the infection of the relationship of the factors of the disease in recent years, noting the role of Epstein-Barr virus infection. EB virus core antibody, about 65% to 93% in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other arthritis patients compared with only 10% to 29%; and B cells, cells of the patients transformed by Epstein-Barr virus can produce the RF.


Rheumatoid arthritis - disease etiologyCause of 1) dysfunction often makes the patient's work, family life and sexual life is limited, which can cause emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression and treatment of non-cooperation.
(2) drug treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can lead to psychotic symptoms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause cognitive impairment, delirium, mania and psychotic symptoms, the elderly are more vulnerable to such side effects. NSAIDs increase blood concentration of lithium salt treatment of the lithium salt concentration and toxic concentration close Therefore, if the patient taking lithium salt at the same time, the need for regular testing of blood lithium concentration. Glucocorticoids can cause mood swings, sleep disorders, delirium, and psychotic symptoms, symptoms related to the dose of the drug.
Will not be geneticRheumatoid arthritis will not be genetic, related to the event of having children, young patients very concerned about.
Genealogical survey results show that the family of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, the incidence of family than healthy people 2 to 10 times higher. Have reported 29 pairs of monozygotic twins children, there are two pairs suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, another although separated in two places, but the age of 53 and 56 years of age are rheumatoid arthritis occurs.In the survey of 100 cases of rheumatoid arthritis patients, found that family history in only five cases, some brothers and sisters is not the only one suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, some parents also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. But whether genetic too, there is no direct evidence. In addition to genetic factors, but should also consider the impact of all aspects of the same family environment, nutritional status, and psychological situation.
Abroad there have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis twin children 28 pairs, of which 25 to have a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, the other three pairs are both suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. American scholars had investigated the family history of the Indian residents suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, can not put forward the conclusions of this disease with genetic factors.Thus, by early family investigation and twins prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis have a slight familial aggregation tendencies and sick twins phenomenon, suggesting that genetic factors in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis a certain role. Studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis patients have an HLA-DR4 (human leukocyte antigen DR4) common genetic, rheumatoid arthritis and HLA-DR4, especially in severe cases, but not with this gene will suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis genetic susceptibility, but not the only factor, the incidence is the result of various factors.
Rheumatoid arthritis - health careMorning and walking rheumatoid arthritis patients can not only enhance physical fitness, to promote their recovery and to increase joint activities, thereby reducing the ankylosis and deformity, reduce the formation of disability. Its main methods are:
1) fast walking, and go down. This is generally easy to grasp and to adhere to an effective fitness method. The so-called fast walking 120 steps per minute, the time from short to long. The so-called go down, that is, back walk, flat trail or on the square, every 100-200 steps with fast walking alternating. Better physique of patients, but also for the sprints, long-distance and varied pace.
2) can practice tai chi, tai chi sword, five birds and other traditional Chinese martial arts.
3) Cycling jump elderly disco, traditional dance, aerobics and other exercise, all contribute to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis disease joint gymnastics streets simple joint functional exercise.
Shijiazhuang, Hebei Hospital Rheumatology experts say, patients with rheumatoid arthritis can choose according to their own illness, physical condition and their hobbies, etc. 1-2. Mild selectable action complex activity slightly larger activities such as tai chi, tai chi sword, elderly disco; serious condition, action is not convenient alternative movements are simple and the activities of small activities such as walking, jogging, Qigong. Patients can select different parts of the joint lesions joint gymnastics.


Rheumatoid arthritis - DiagnosisDiagnostic blood: positive cells are hypochromic anemia, lymphocytes and platelets increase in the active stage performance. ESR. Eosinophilia is a symbol of rheumatoid arthritis with severe systemic complications.
Hyperviscosity syndrome: rheumatoid factor IgM and IgG complexes can form sticky aggregates, causing hyperviscosity syndrome.
Rheumatoid factor: lymphocytes and plasma cells in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis can produce large amounts of rheumatoid factor, IgM, IgG and IgA rheumatoid factor
X-ray examination: joint X-ray film can be seen fuzzy articular surface erosion damage. Early in the disease near the joints, osteoporosis, soft tissue swelling, bone erosion. Late necrosis of articular cartilage allows the joint space narrowing and fibrosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis - hazardsRheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis treatment in a timely manner, the dangers of large, common, mainly of the following, namely:
, Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to kidney disease; rheumatoid arthritis, renal dysfunction, and long-term use of anti-rheumatic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug related. After stopping the treatment, you can gradually improve. Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, may cause interstitial nephritis, although progress is slow, but can lead to renal failure, so the elderly and patients with kidney disease should be used cautiously.
2, rheumatoid arthritis, can cause skin diseases; representative for rheumatoid nodules. In addition, the malignant rheumatoid arthritis can cause necrotizing vasculitis, a purpura, ulcers and gangrene mixed existence of skin lesions, 13 parts of common lower extremity.
3, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to respiratory diseases; common pleurisy and interstitial pneumonia, especially the chronically ill elderly.
4, rheumatoid arthritis can cause eye; rheumatoid involving the eyes, about 15% of patients with Sjogren's syndrome can occur, causing the cornea and conjunctiva is dry and does not apply to a small number of patients with concurrent scleritis, iritis, occurs in edge of the cornea 2 to 3 mm.
, Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to heart disease; rheumatoid arthritis complicated by pericarditis can be as high as 20% to 50%, a few of the formation of rheumatoid nodules, the majority of asymptomatic, often found in the cardiac ultrasound examination. But also may cause left ventricular failure.
6, rheumatoid arthritis can cause nervous system disease; patients with rheumatoid arthritis tend to neurological dysfunction. Its causes and cervical spinal cord compression due to synovitis, tendon synovitis of peripheral nerve compression can be nerve dysfunction.

Rheumatoid arthritis - treatment programThe therapeutic purposes of treatment is to relieve joint pain, prevent joint damage, and to retain and improve joint function. Take different approaches to treatment at different stages of the disease, specific methods are:
A physical therapy: local hyperthermia, hot water bath, spa bath, steam therapy and paraffin therapies and pain can alleviate morning stiffness disappeared, patient feel comfortable. Acute exudative lesions can be used cold to reduce pain. Infrared, ultra-short wave or short wave diathermy therapy, etc. may also increase local blood circulation, promote inflammation and swelling subside, reduce pain, and to enhance the role of drugs on the local.
Surgery.
3. Drug treatment:
(A) of salicylates: aspirin is still the first choice for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis drugs.
(B) anti-inflammatory pain: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the better its analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects.
(C) isobutyl styrene-acrylic acid: anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic action compared with aspirin 10 times more side effects than aspirin small.
(IV) corticosteroids: acute inflammation have a significant effect, the side effects of long-term application more vulnerable to relapse after discontinuation.
(E) penicillamine: Application penicillamine treatment, in addition to the joint symptoms, can reduce the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor became negative.
(Vi) to sparse tensiomin candied acid.
(7) Tripterygium: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, immune regulation, the role of the blood circulation, pesticides, etc..
(Eight) gold preparation: It may interfere with cellular biochemical reactions. Have significant effect on joint pain and morning stiffness, and also enable the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein improved the efficiency up to 70-90%.
(I) immunosuppressants: have a certain effect on the disease, commonly used are cyclophosphamide, azathioprine.
(J) the efficient treatment of rheumatoid arthritis drugs: Kanlisa,
Rheumatoid arthritis - Chinese medicine treatmentChinese medicine is an integral part of traditional medicine, is profound, long history, is the quintessence of China for thousands of years cured of incurable diseases, has been the people pride. For the treatment of joint diseases, a lot of people trust the Chinese medicine massage, massage and Chinese medicine treatment. Joint massage, physical therapy practices, as long as formal medical treatment, patients can rest assured.
The traditional theory of Chinese medicine for the arthritis treatment that the "Cold Wind evil, Blockage of the meridians, resulting in blocked meridians, General pain", so the Chinese medicine treatment is generally comfortable and easy to antispasmodic tongluo, for the purpose of promoting blood circulation, Chinese medicine is a combination of the principles of acupuncture and drugs, has a good effect.
The pure Chinese medicine town bone dispels wind and paste to start from the get rid of evils, strengthening and restoring both the selection of rare herbs, a reasonable set of square, fine compatibility, and finally was completely cured of arthritis and chronic problem of the magic of. Clematis Xing Meng good to go pass the twelve regular channels, not only eradicates rheumatism, but also the flow of qi and relieve pain; Notopterygium, independent living with Qufeng wins wet Chubi analgesic effect; fine Cincinnati temperature divergence aromatic through up to the Tongli Jiuqiao; goodness of pangolins walk channeling, up organs, outside the flow of qi, blood stasis and strong; the Achyranthes efficacy by promoting blood circulation, liver and kidney, strong bones and muscles, and Water Tonglin; Wujiapi rheumatism, bugan, kidney, strong bones and muscles; Dipsacus liver or kidney, strong bones and muscles, adjust blood, continued folding injury; cinnamon make up the fire yang, pain and cold and warm Tongmai.
Clinical manifestationsA body heat most of the patients with irregular mild or moderate fever, but also showed a remittent fever or persistent low heat. Pulse rate and Discovery, profuse sweating, often out of proportion with the body temperature.
The typical performance. Arthritis is migratory polyarthritis, often symmetrical tired knee, ankle, shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip and other joints; local was redness, swelling, heat, pain, inflammation, but not purulent. The incidence of several joints of some patients at the same time, the hands, feet small joints or spine joints may also be involved. Usually attack one month after the streptococcal infection, anti-streptococcal antibody titer can often be increased. After the acute inflammation subsided, the joint function is fully restored, is not left behind ankylosis and deformity, but often recurrent. Typical in recent years, rare. No significant relationship between the degree of joint local inflammation with or without carditis or valvular heart disease.
3 carditis is the most important clinical manifestations, 65% to 80% of pediatric patients with heart change. Acute rheumatic carditis is the most common cause of congestive heart failure in childhood.
Skin changes as urticaria, rash, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, annular erythema, annular erythema were more common, and diagnostic significance. Common in the limbs inside and trunk, flush the red ring of light, the early emergence of smaller, after rapidly expand to the surrounding edge of the mild Long straight, normal skin color ring. Sometimes fused into a flower ring. Erythema are not itchy and not hard, press the fade, which lasted up to several months.
Chorea often occurs in 5 to 12-year-old rheumatism of children, more females than males. More than the incidence in post-streptococcal 2 June. Department of rheumatic fever and inflammation violation of the central nervous system, including the performance of the basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and striated, slow onset. Clinical manifestations: mental disorder onset, often emotional restlessness, irritability, comprehension and memory loss; involuntary movements; decreased muscle strength and work of economic imbalance.
6. Other performance in addition to the typical manifestations of rheumatoid even involving other parts of the rheumatic pleurisy, peritonitis, vasculitis, should attract attention.


Rheumatoid arthritis - basic therapyTreatment of any disease, the basic treatment is very important to RA is no exception. The basic treatment is the basis of other treatments, and prognosis of disease, prognosis is very important.
1, rheumatoid arthritis - Psychotherapy
Rheumatoid arthritis great health hazards on the human body, some patients with life-long disability, and therefore there is a panic, pessimism and depression status, can not be fully mobilized in patients with intrinsic positive factors, not confidence to closely cooperate with treatment. Psychotherapy is the possibility of doctors seeking truth from facts, objective, science to patients, clarifying the illness, treatment and hope for the future and the prognosis for patients to develop a thorough comprehensive treatment program, only access to the patients' trust in the doctor's considered further basis for treatment.
2, nutrition
Although there is no special requirements of patients with rheumatoid arthritis diet, but long-term illness, chronic wasting prone to thin and protein, vitamin insufficiency in long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, resulting in lower gastrointestinal function, digestion, malabsorption, therefore, Balanced nutrition is the basis for rehabilitation of disease, is a comprehensive treatment can not be ignored.
3, exercise
Rheumatoid arthritis patients should be allowed condition, actively strengthen the local function of the overall and joint exercise, to enhance physical fitness, protect or restore joint function. Joint function of the early exercise an active role to preserve joint function and prevent joint deformity. The exercise should be under the guidance of a doctor, regardless of severity, should be taken to combining dynamic and static, to take the initiative to exercise. Step by step, not anxious, and do not give up exercise because of a moment without success.
4, rheumatoid arthritis - physical therapy
Physical therapy is mainly used for local joint disease, RA is a systemic disease caused by immune dysfunction and immune pathological changes, systemic hyperthermia for the treatment of this disease meaning to be explored, therapeutic hypothermia should be controlled to the extent appropriate, otherwise low temperature only may change the body's protein antigen, but control of the adverse condition. Therefore, physical therapy is only applicable in rheumatoid arthritis basic control body in stable condition improves, a small number of swollen joints, muscle cramps, patients with mild deformity without bony ankylosis.
5, rheumatoid arthritis - Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a safe and effective treatment method. The purpose of kidney and bone health, Shujin, spleen dampness SHUFENGDINGTONG to promote the improvement of the patients involved in the restoration of joint function and general condition, to lay the foundation for further treatment. Massage therapy should be noted that: (1) avoid the crude effect, brutal tactics; (2) a definite purpose, and not blindly start; (3) should not anxious to avoid mis leaving the joint damaged or pathologic fracture. Poor general condition or severe rheumatoid activity of obvious vasculitis patients should be taboo massage therapy to prevent disease progression.
6, rheumatoid arthritis - Replacement Therapy
The 1980s saw the peak tooth shark cartilage powder treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, to restore the body's joints renewable alternative medicine popular in Europe and the United States and other advanced countries, as a new attempt to achieve the fundamental rehabilitation. In Europe, saw the peak tooth shark cartilage powder extract has been identified as arthritis drugs, OAM (alternative Medical Services Bureau) of shark cartilage powder as alternative medicine research and popularization in Japan using the saw peak tooth shark cartilage powder as alternative medicine, widely used in osteoarthritis clinical, and achieved remarkable results, even summed up the best dose for osteoarthritis of 7.5g / day statistical data. Side effects of traditional therapies, the shortage of high operative risk, replacement therapy tends to be more fundamental and security, compared to bright dawn of mankind to overcome rheumatoid arthritis.