Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that affects one percent of the world's population. RA causes chronic inflammation and joint pain. Physical examination findings are the primary means of clinically diagnosing RA. Currently, the exact cause of RA is still unknown. The signs of “swelling, bone erosions and synovial thickening” (Gibofsky) show the hidden signs of an inflammatory and autoimmune process. More complex signs of RA lead to synovial hyperplasia, bone erosion, and cartilage damage that typically affect 80% of people with RA within the first year after diagnosis. Once the bones are eroded, there is no sign of bone repair. This suggests that prevention of bone erosion is a goal. RA also causes joint damage which can lead to pain and disability. The severity of pain and physical dysfunction show the degree of the disease. RA depends on the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment. Remission occurs in 20% or less of people. Standard indices of disease activity are used to determine the best on-target treatment approach using pharmacological intervention. First-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis involves medication. The three main pharmacological treatments to treat rheumatoid arthritis are nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Aside from the three pharmacological treatments listed above, nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are the most common medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. control stiffness, pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. During the first few weeks, NSAIDs can be very helpful during diagnosis and...... middle of paper ......sability and mortality. It is important that people who experience these symptoms are diagnosed and started treatment before significant joint and bone damage occurs. This will bring hope for further improvements in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Works CitedCurtis, Jeffrey R., Angelo Gaffo, and Kenneth G. Saag. “Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.” American Journal of Health System Pharmacy 63.24 (2006): 2451+. Academic OneFile. Internet. January 25, 2014Gibsofsky, Allan. “Overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.” American Journal of Managed Care 18. (2012): S295-302. CINAHL Plus with full text. Internet. January 25, 2014 Schneider, Matthias and Klaus Kruger. “Rheumatoid Arthritis – Early Diagnosis and Management of the Disease.” » Deutsches Aerzteblatt International 110.27/28 (2013): 477-484. CINAHL Plus with full text. Internet. January 25. 2014