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Complex Situations in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Autoimmune Diseases

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease involving large and small joints resulting in pain, joint destruction, and disability. The disease course of RA is unpredictable with some patients having only mild symptoms while others may experience persistent and acute synovitis leading to severe joint destruction. However, being a systemic disease, it can affect other tissues and organs, causing a wide range of symptoms and complications that although usually not life threatening are the cause of significant morbidity. Knowledge of articular or extra-articular complications may aid in promoting a high index of suspicion and contribute significantly to an early diagnosis and avoid many potentially dangerous conditions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana, 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain

    Miriam García-Arias

Authors
  1. Miriam García-Arias
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  2. Gema Bonilla
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  3. Luis Gómez-Carreras
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  4. Alejandro Balsa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miriam García-Arias .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rayne Institute, Lupus Research Unit, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom

    Munther A. Khamashta

  2. Barcelona, Surgey, Hospital Clinic, Calle Villarroel, 170, Barcelona, 08036, Spain

    Manuel Ramos-Casals

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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García-Arias, M., Bonilla, G., Gómez-Carreras, L., Balsa, A. (2011). Complex Situations in Rheumatoid Arthritis. In: Khamashta, M., Ramos-Casals, M. (eds) Autoimmune Diseases. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-358-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-358-9_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-357-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-358-9

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