Rheumatoid arthritis

- is characterized mainly by chronic progressive inflammation of many joints of the extremities, is associated with the circulation of immune complexes in the blood.
The disease manifests itself as persistent arthritis (usually polyarthritis) with early and predominant lesion of small joints of hands and feet. Characteristic is the morning stiffness in the painfully swollen joints, an increase in skin temperature over them. Arthritis symmetrical. The onset of the disease is gradual, wavy, but steadily progressing: all new joints are involved, followed by their rough deformation - "rheumatoid brush", "rheumatoid foot." There may be extra-articular manifestations (pleurisy, pericarditis, myocarditis, enlargement of the liver, spleen, lymph nodes).
Recognition is carried out on the basis of data from an x-ray study of erosions of the joint surfaces, determination of the rheumatoid factor in the serum and synovial fluid. The blood rises in ESR, the level of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein.
In the initial stage - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indometacip, orthophene, voltaren, naproxen, ibuprofen, etc.). The most inflamed joints are injected with corticosteroid hormones (hydrocortisone, methipred, kenolog). In severe cases, basic therapy is carried out: crisanol, D-penicillamine (kurenyl, methylcapatase), deligil, sulfasalazine. It applies therapeutic exercises aimed at maintaining maximum mobility of joints and retaining muscle mass, physiotherapy (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy), sanatorium treatment. With persistent arthritis - surgical method: synovectomy, reconstructive surgery.