Well over 1.3 million Americans are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network. The potentially debilitating disease turns the body’s immune system against itself, attacking tissues and joints. Left untreated, the disorder can lead to deformed joints and disability.
Unlike osteoarthritis, RA can strike at young ages, sometimes affecting new mothers postpartum. The good news is researchers have made great strides in developing therapies that are improving lives for people with RA, with scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus testing breakthrough treatments in clinical trials.
Below, Laura Kelley, media relations professional in the CU Anschutz Office of Communications, speaks with Kristen Demoruelle, MD, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, who addresses common signs of the disease, treatment options and promising work being done to combat RA. Kelley was recently diagnosed with RA. Read her personal account here.