Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a complex multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by:
- Loss of immunologic self-tolerance
- Chronic inflammation
- Destruction of the joints
Women are up to three times more likely to develop RA than men. Women are also more likely to develop the disease at a younger age than men.
RA generally begins to affect people between the ages of 30 and 60 years old. The average person does not develop symptoms of RA until they reach their 60's.