类风湿性关节炎
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
同义词： rheumatoid arthritis / rheumatism
萎缩性关节炎
历史上曾用过萎缩性关节炎(atrophic arthritis)及增生性关节炎(hypprtrophicarthritis)的名词，前者多指有滑膜炎症及骨、软骨的破坏，因而也可包括类风湿关节炎。