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rheumatoid arthritis
a chronic disease whose cause is unknown, characterized by inflammation, pain, and swelling of the joints accompanied by spasms in adjacent muscles and often leading to deformity of the joints
See rheumatoid arthritis in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A chronic disease marked by stiffness and inflammation of the joints, weakness, loss of mobility, and deformity.
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rheumatoid arthritis
top: normal finger joint
bottom: arthritic finger joint
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