The Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The article describes the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, a common autoimmune disease with no known cause that is associated with progressive disability, systemic complications, early death and socioeconomic costs. It discusses the study findings implicating genetic factors and gene-environment interactions in rheumatoid arthritis. It discusses why cytokine production is central to the pathogenesis of the disease. The structural damage and systemic consequences of the disease are tackled.