Rheumatoid arthritis and symptoms cause

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known. Rheumatoid arthritis is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men. Over time, this inflammation may destroy the joint tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis causes tissues lining the joints to become swollen, stiff, and painful. If you are looking for information on the most common form of arthritis in older adults, see the topic Osteoarthritis. If you are looking for information about how juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects young children, see the topic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. This topic is about rheumatoid arthritis.