This file owns the inflammatory arthritis diagnostic framework — the joint pattern + autoantibody + extra-articular feature + acute-phase-reactant integrator that every subsequent rheumatologic file reuses — and rheumatoid arthritis as a clinical disease: pathogenesis, diagnosis, extra-articular manifestations, principles of treatment selection.
Prerequisites
MSK Anatomy, Histology, Embryology & Joint Biology (synovial joint structure: capsule, type A macrophage-like + type B fibroblast-like synoviocytes, normal synovial fluid <200/μL, bare areas where synovium contacts bone without intervening cartilage, articular cartilage type II collagen and avascularity)Bone & Cartilage Biology, Mineral Homeostasis (RANKL/OPG axis as osteoclast activator; pannus-mediated erosion mechanism; cytokine-cell-coupling framework)Core Immunology — HLA class II antigen presentation, T cell biology, cytokine table (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-23 functions; hypersensitivity classification including Type III immune-complex and Type IV T-cell-mediated mechanisms)Basic clinical examination (joint exam techniques)