Complications Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Written by John Sinatra

Rhumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that afflicts millions of Americans, causing significant discomfort and loss of mobility and quality of life. In addition to the primary effects of rhumatoid arthritis, which include swollen, painful joints, the disease also can cause a number of complications, some of which are very serious.

Rhumatoid arthritis affects about 1.2 million people in the U.S. The disease occurs when your immune system starts attacking the lining in your joints. Over time, rhumatoid arthritis can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. The disease is three times more likely to affect women than men, and onset usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 40.

Complications of rhumatoid arthritis can occur in various parts of the body, including the skin, eyes, heart, and lungs. People with rhumatoid arthritis should be aware of possible complications, and consult closely with their health care provider to mitigate these complications, as some can be life threatening if left untreated.

Heart and blood vessel complications

Rhumatoid arthritis can contribute to a build up of fluid between the heart and a membrane around the heart called the pericardium. This fluid build up can cause pericarditis, which causes the membranes around the heart to become inflamed. Over time, episodes of pericarditis can cause the membrane around the heart to thicken and get tight, which can impair the heart's proper functions. Lesions similar to rhumatoid nodules can also form on the heart and further impair its proper function. A rarer, but more dangerous complication is myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart itself.

The potential for rhumatoid arthritis to cause inflammations around the heart and to the heart puts those afflicted with this illness at a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. According to recent studies, people with rhumatoid arthritis are at the same level of hearth attack risk as those with type 2 diabetes.

Blood diseases

Rhumatoid arthritis can contribute to anemia, an underproduction of red blood cells. People with anemia can suffer from an number of symptoms, including fatigue, breathing problems, disorientation, sleeping problems and leg cramps. Rhumatoid arthritis can also contribute to Feity's syndrome, an illness characterized by an enlarged spleen and and low white blood cell count. Feity's syndrome is a major risk factor for lymphoma.

Skin complications

Skin problems are one of the most common complications of rhumatoid arthritis. The disease can cause a number of uncomfortable skin problems, usually near the area around affected joints. About 20 percent of people suffering from rhumatoid arthritis develop rhumatoid nodules, lumps of tissue that form under the skin around the elbows, heels, fingers or forearms. These nodules can also form around other parts of the body, including the heart or lungs.

Eye complications

Rhumatoid arthritis can inflame the episclera, a thin membrane that covers the whites of your eyes. It can cause redness and pain. A more severe inflammation is scleritis, which also impacts the white of the eye and can cause vision impairment.

Some folks with arthritis can develop Sjrogens' syndrome, a condition which causes your immune system to attack the tear producing glands. This can cause dryness and eventual scarring of the conjunctiva.

Lung complications

Rhumatoid arthritis can contribute to inflammation of the membrane lining the lungs. This inflammation can help cause pleuritis, a an inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest that can cause severe chest pain.

As mentioned before, rhumatoid nodules can form in the lungs, and help contribute to problems such as collapsed lungs, infection, and the accumulation of fluid between the chest cavity and the membrane lining your lungs. Other complications include interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension.

Immune system complications

Because many people with rhumatoid arthritis must take immune system suppressing medication to mitigate their immune system's attack on the lining of their joints, they may be more susceptible to other illnesses. Rhumatoid arthritis sufferers must be vigilant regarding their overall health because of their increased susceptibility to illness because of their medications. New biologic drugs may help rhumatoid arthritis sufferers avoid the increased susceptibility to illness and infection.

Most of the complications of rhumatoid arthritis are treatable, if health care providers are made aware of the symptoms in a timely fashion. If you have rhumatoid arthritis, it's imperative that you work closely and cooperatively with your health care provider to ensure that you enjoy the best quality of life possible.