rheumatoid arthritis

noun

: a usually chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints

—abbreviation RA compare osteoarthritis

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The for-profit online pharmacy aims to undercut the health care industry by selling generic drugs for everything from asthma to glaucoma to rheumatoid arthritis for a fraction of the typical price. Time, 17 Nov. 2022

Some forms appear with other connective-tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Laura Landro, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2022

If these results are able to be duplicated, and generalized to other types of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis, this could be a dramatic new type of therapy against a terrible set of diseases. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 8 Nov. 2022

All these posts followed shortly after speaking with Health Digest about her battle with multiple chronic illnesses, including lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's Syndrome. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 24 Oct. 2022

Those patients may benefit from the same types of anti-inflammatory drugs given to lupus or rheumatoid arthritis patients, according to Sanz, who was not involved in the new study. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2022

Methotrexate also is used to treat several types of cancers as well as rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic. CBS News, 22 July 2022

Manson is basing her theory on findings from one of her studies that suggested vitamin D might reduce the risk for certain autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, because the diseases are also characterized by inflammation. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2022

Drugmakers shifted focus to other, more lucrative areas, including cancer and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Jared S. Hopkins, WSJ, 26 July 2022

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

rheumatoid arthritis

noun

: a usually chronic disease that is considered an autoimmune disease and is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints

—abbreviation RA

called also atrophic arthritis

compare osteoarthritis