It is a chronic, systemic, disease that causes the defense system (immune system) of the body to attack the joints. The body’s immune system normally fights off foreign substances. However, in an autoimmune disease like RA, the immune system confuses healthy tissue as foreign substance and attacks its own tissue.

RA is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to severe pain and joint destruction. The disease typically affects multiple joints across the body. This systemic disease often affects other extra-articular tissues of the body including skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and muscles. It can occur at any age and women are more affected than men. The cause of RA is unknown.

If left untreated or sub-optimally treated, affected joints can lose their shape and alignment, resulting in deformity, disability, and eventual loss of movement. Early and aggressive treatment leads to remission. It means more productivity and less working day loss. Moreover, deformities can be prevented as the progression of the disease is inhibited.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS):

It is a chronic, inflammatory disorder which primarily affects the central bony skeleton like the spine. But it may also affect the peripheral joints and structures of the human body other than the bones and joints. Patients suffering from AS usually complain of back pain and pain and swelling involving the peripheral joints. The cause of AS is unknown.

Like RA, if left untreated or sub-optimally treated, the entire spine can become fused (“Bamboo Spine”) with restricted movement. The disease also involves inflammation of joints between the spine and the pelvic bones. As against RA which is more common in women, AS affects men approximately 3 times more as compared to women.

However, AS in women is not mild and any less severe. The onset of AS is typically in the 2nd or 3rd decade of life which is the most productive period of life. Untreated AS can cause huge economic and psychological impact in society.

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA):

It is a disease involving both skin and the joints. PsA usually affects around 1/3rd patients who are suffering from a chronic skin condition called Psoriasis. In a majority of patients suffering from PsA, skin lesions appear first followed by joint involvement (arthritis). PsA can lead to severe deformities and diminished Quality of Life (QoL).

Psoriasis (PS):

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory, skin disease which has a significant psychological and emotional impact. The condition involves patches or lesions on the skin. Psoriatic skin lesions normally appear on the scalp, elbow, knee, hand, lower back and genital areas. In a majority of PS patients, the onset of the disease occurs before the age of 40. The skin patches affect the patient psychologically and socially leading to withdrawal of the patient, and therefore impacting the quality of patient’s life.