ACTIVE I

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

IT IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE OF
UNKNOWN ORIGIN

ACTIVE INFLAMMATION IN THE SYNOVIAL JOINTS

PHAGOCYTOSIS OCCURS PRODUCING PANNUS FORMATION OCCURS, DESTROYING

ENZYMES THAT BREAKS DOWN COLLAGEN CARTILAGE AND ERODES BONE

JOINTS BECOME HOT, SWOLLEN AND

LIMITATION IN FUNCTION
PAINFUL, NOT EASILY MOVED

PATIENT GUARDS TO PROTECT JOINTS

IMMOBILIZATION

IF PROLONGED
TENDON AND LIGAMENT ELASTICITY AND
CONTRACTILE POWER ARE LOST.
CONTRACTURES

CREATING SOFT TISSUE DEFORMITY

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS:

COMMON: ADVANCED:

 FEVER
 RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
 WEIGHT LOSS
 ARTERITIS
 FATIGUE
 NEUROPATHY
 ANEMIA
 SCLERITIS
 LYMPH NODE ENLARGEMENT
 PERICARDITIS
 RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENOM
 SPLENOMEGALY
 SJOGEN’S SYNDROME

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:

EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS MODERATE EROSIVE PERSISTENT EROSIVE ADVANCED UNREMITTING

 A treatment includes: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
 Education  Formal program A. Reconstructive
 Balance of rest and with occupational Surgery: B. PHARMACOLOGIC
exercise and physical  Synovectomy  Immunosuppressant
 Referral to appropriate therapy  Tenorrhapy  High Dose
community agencies  Arthroplasty methotrexate
B. PHARMACOLOGIC  Cyclophosphamide
B. PHARMACOLOGIC  Salicylates B. PHARMACOLOGIC  Azathiopine
 Salicylates  Cyclo-oxygenase  Corticosteroids  Leflunomide
 Cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) (COX-2) enzyme
enzyme blockers blockers
C. NON PHARMACOLOGIC
 Relaxation techniques
 Heat and cold application
NURSING MANAGEMENT:
 Monitoring and Managing Potential
NUTRITIONAL THERAPY: Complications
 Promoting Home and Community Based
 Healthy calorie- restricted diet
Care
 Food high in vitamins, protein and iron
for tissue building and repair  Teaching patient Self- Care