Course Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation that often leads to major pain and disability. Autoantibodies contribute to the disease process of synovial inflammation and joint damage for those afflicted. Symptoms include pain at the sight of inflammation as well as more generalized feelings of fatigue, loss of appetite and low-grade fever. Therapies for rheumatoid arthritis may be individualized but typically focus on the suppression of synovial inflammation and joint damage. While the following sections focus on the more common approaches of diagnosis and treatment, additional areas of research and study are highlighted related to disease etiology, progression and lifestyle choices.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I.              Introduction
• II.           Prevalence and Etiology
  • 1.   Cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • 2.   Disease Risk Factors
• III.        Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
• IV.         Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • 1.   Medical History
  • 2.   Physical Examination
  • 3.   Laboratory Tests
• V.            Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • 1.   Health Behavior Changes
  • 2.   Medications
  • 3.   Surgery
  • 4.   Monitoring RA Disease Progress
  • 5.   Alternative Therapies
• VI.         Rheumatoid Arthritis Research
  • 1.   Genetics and RA
  • 2.   New RA Therapies
• VII.       Case Study
  • 1.   Discussion
• VIII.    Summary

Author

Noah H. Carpenter, MD

Dr. Noah Carpenter is a Thoracic and Peripheral Vascular Surgeon. He completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry and medical school and training at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Carpenter completed surgical residency and fellowship at the University of Edmonton and Affiliated Hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta, and an additional Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has specialized in microsurgical techniques, vascular endoscopy, laser and laparoscopic surgery in Brandon, Manitoba and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and in Colorado, Texas, and California. Dr. Carpenter has an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Calgary, and was appointed a Citizen Ambassador to China, and has served as a member of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, Canada Science Council, and the International Society of Endovascular Surgeons, among others. He has been an inspiration to youth, motivating them to understand the importance of achieving higher education.