Rheumatoid arthritis: a case study.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, progressively deteriorating, connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joints, pain, immobility, and fatigue. Exacerbations of RA are frequently associated with periods of physical and/or emotional stress. It is estimated that 1 in every 100 persons throughout the world suffers from RA. In the United States, women have 2 to 3 times the incidence rate of men, with no significant radical differences noted between Caucasians and African-Americans. In this article a case study format is used to provide information pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of the adult RA patient.
Hartzheim
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LA
Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Goss
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GL
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing; D014481:United States