Review Article

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pannus

Panagiota Papadogianni¹, George I. Lambrou^1,2,3

1. Postgraduate Program “Metabolic Bone Diseases”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
2. Laboratory for the Research of the Musculoskeletal System “Th. Garofalidis”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Kifissia, Athens, Greece
3. Choremeio Research Laboratory, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

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Keywords: Joints, Pannus, Rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory systemic autoimmune disorder that affects the joints, but often also other organs. It is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from chronic joint pain, disability, and increased mortality. The joints affected are usually those of the limbs, hands, and feet. If rheumatoid arthritis is not controlled with appropriate medication, it gradually leads over the years to destruction and permanent deformation of the joints, due to erosion of the cartilage and bone. The result of the condition is the disruption of joint mobility, the irreversible functional disability, the impairment of the patient's productivity and quality of life. The disease requires long-term medical monitoring and appropriate medication to suppress the inflammatory process, prevent deformities and maintain patients' functionality. One of the effects of the disease is the appearance of pannus, which is an aggressive structure in the inflamed rheumatoid joint that invades the cartilage and bone, thus causing irreversible joint damage. This article focuses bibliographically on rheumatoid arthritis and pannus to reveal the relationship between them.

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