Category: Rheumatology
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Rheumatoid arthritis
Definition N Engl J Med 2011;365:2205-19 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory polyarthritis caused by chronic inflammation of the synovium (the membrane present in synovial joints that lines the joint capsules and produces synovial fluid). Features include synovial inflammation and hyperplasia (which cause joint swelling), autoantibody production, cartilage and bone destruction…
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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Definition J Rheumatol. 2004 Feb;31(2):390-2. Lancet. 2011 Jun 18;377(9783):2138-49. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) refers to a heterogeneous group of diseases that share the common feature of arthritis of unknown origin occurring before the age of sixteen. JIA is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects synovial joints. Each subtype has distinct clinical, immunologic and genetic features. Together, the…
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Introduction to immunology
Overview N Engl J Med. 2000 Aug 3;343(5):338-44. Trends Immunol. 2001 May;22(5):235-6. Nat Immunol. 2012 Feb 16;13(3):214-22. Medicine. 2009 Oct 37(10): 510-517 Jpn J. Infec Dis. 2004 57: 236-247. Microorganisms that cause disease in humans and animals enter the body at different sites and produce disease symptoms by a variety of mechanisms. Microbial invasion is…