Rheumatoid arthritis - development of disease III - What happens outside the joint?

In approximately one quarter of patients appear rheumatoid nodes, usually on the outside of the elbow, or the inside of the knee and are a sign of a more difficult and more active disease. On the eyes most common is so-called sicca syndrome - dry eye with a sense of scratching beneath the eyelids. On the lungs is possible a development of inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Although frequent, changes in the heart are without symptoms. The most common hematologic change is in the occurrence of mild anemia that correlates with the inflammatory component of diseases.