It is believed to be a chronic systemic disease triggered by an autoimmune reaction  causing pain and inflammation of joint tissues.  First, it typically affects the small joints of the feet and hands and later moves on to larger joints.  It can eventually create subcutaneous nodules and deformity around the area of the joint.  This condition most often appears in adults and is likely to be seen in two to three times more women than men.
The immune system attacks the s...more