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Noun: rheumatoid arthritis  'roo-mu,toyd aa(r)'thrI-tus
  1. A chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
    - atrophic arthritis, rheumatism

Type of: arthritis, autoimmune disease, autoimmune disorder

Encyclopedia: Rheumatoid arthritis

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