Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment in Iran
It has been over a half-century that Iran has been working on rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The first Iranian subspecialty rheumatology outpatient clinic was established in Tehran in 1970. After the creation of the subspecialty Board of Rheumatology in 1985, and medical universities were approved for the training of rheumatology fellows, Iran has advanced greatly in the field, and today many patients travel to the country for rheumatoid arthritis treatment in Iran.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues.
Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
The inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis is what can damage other parts of the body as well. While new types of medications have improved treatment options dramatically, severe rheumatoid arthritis can still cause physical disabilities.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:
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Tender, warm, swollen joints
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Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
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Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite
Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first — particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet.
As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders. In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of your body.
About 40% of people who have rheumatoid arthritis also experience signs and symptoms that do not involve the joints. Areas that may be affected include:
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Skin
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Eyes
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Lungs
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Heart
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Kidneys
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Salivary glands
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Nerve tissue
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Bone marrow
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Blood vessels