Autoimmune Disorder: A Review on Rheumatoid Arthritis

The human immune system is a complex defense mechanism that protects the body from microbial infections and foreign substances.However, in autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage.Autoimmune diseases include insulin dependent diabetic mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, thyroiditis, and multiple sclerosis.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disorder characterized by symmetric polyarthritis, joint discomfort, and inflammation.The etiology of RA involves the interaction of genetic and environmental susceptibility factors, including the periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis.Women are more likely to develop RA than men, with a female-to-male incidence ratio that increases with age.The disease can be classified into seropositive and seronegative RA, with seropositive RA being the most prevalent form.Treatment options for RA include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and corticosteroids.