Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA means the second most common form of Arthritis and the most common autoimmune disease in Australia (AIHW, 2005).   More prevalent among women, RA is a progressive disease with onset most likely between 25-50 years, at a time when people are active in the workplace or family care roles.  RA is characterised by inflammation within joints that serves no evidently useful purpose and which damages joint structures.  The synovial membrane that lines joints is thickened and an over-production of synovial (joint) fluid occurs. The joints become painful, swollen, stiff and, as the process continues, deformed from damage to the cartilage and other soft tissue.   Other symptoms include fatigue, interrupted sleep, weight loss, anaemia, nodules (in 30% of people), ulcers, atrophic skin, muscle weakness, impaired joint function and inflammation of the heart, lungs, eyes, nerves, blood vessels and lymph glands. There is significant morbidity and mortality (over half of patients will have to reduce significantly or stop work after ten years of the disease).

See Arthritis.