What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
by Beth G. Hodges, MD

What is rheumatoid arthritis? In this disease, the body's immune system attacks a joint, resulting in pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and stiffness of that joint. It affects women more than men, and most often begins after age 45, though there are exceptions. Over time, the disease can permanently deform joints.

Rheumatologists, doctors who treat this type of disease, have developed a classification system to help universally stratify these patients into groups indicating the level of severity and debility of the disease.

1. Class I is the least severe. These patients live essentially normal lives, can work and perform all activities of daily living (called ADL's, and consist of bathing, preparing and eating meals, dressing, and other very basic functions) independently.
2. Class II patients can perform all ADL's and can work, but are limited in performance of sports and some heavy household chores.
3. Class III patients can still perform ADL's independently, but are limited in work and other activities.
4. Class IV patients are the most severely debilitated. They are limited in function of ADL's and cannot work.

Published - October, 2009