TY  - CHAP
M1  - Book, Section
TI  - Chapter 47. Rheumatoid Arthritis
A1  - Reta, Alison M.
A1  - O'Callaghan, Rory E.
A1  - Chen, Steven W.
A2  - Sutton, S. Scott
PY  - 2011
T2  - McGraw-Hill's NAPLEX® Review Guide
AB  - Rheumatoid  arthritis  (RA)  is  a  chronic  systemic  disorder  that  strikes  approximately  1%  of  the  world's  population.1,2  The  onset  is  usually  at  a  young  age  (15-45  years),  and  occurs  more  frequently  in  women  than  in  men.3  The  exact  etiology  of  RA  is  not  well  understood,  and  the  factors  that  initiate  the  inflammatory  process  are  unknown,  but  it  is  clearly  an  autoimmune  disease  involving  T-lymphocytes,  B-lymphocytes,  macrophages,  and  cytokines.3  The  body's  immune  cells  are  unable  to  differentiate  between  self  and  nonself,  and  begin  to  target  the  joint  tissue.  T-lymphocytes  produce  proinflammatory  cytokines  and  produce  cytotoxic  substances  that  lead  to  the  erosion  of  bone  and  cartilage.  Activated  B-lymphocytes  produce  plasma  cells,  which  form  antibodies  that  attack  joint  tissues.  Macrophages  begin  to  release  prostaglandins  and  cytotoxins  to  cause  further  injury  and  inflammation.3  
SN  - 
PB  - The McGraw-Hill Companies
CY  - New York, NY
Y2  - 2024/04/19
UR  - accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7254336
ER  -