Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 71%
Practice
A 38-year-old woman comes to you and has multiple small joints involved with pain, swelling, and stiffness. Which of the following is the most likely explanation?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints. It commonly presents with pain, swelling, and stiffness in multiple small joints such as those in the hands, wrists, and feet. It is more prevalent in females in their 30s to 50s. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane, leading to joint damage and deformities over time. Laboratory tests showing elevated inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), along with positive rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, can help in confirming the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.