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arthritis summary

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Below is the article summary. For the full article, see arthritis.
rheumatoid arthritis
rheumatoid arthritis Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic, frequently progressive disease in which inflammatory changes occur throughout the connective tissues of the body. Inflammation and thickening of the synovial membranes (the sacs holding the fluid that lubricates the joints) cause irreversible damage to the joint