noun
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
• Syn: ↑atrophic arthritis, ↑rheumatism
• Derivationally related forms: ↑rheumatic (for: ↑rheumatism)
• Topics: ↑virus
• Hypernyms: ↑arthritis, ↑autoimmune disease, ↑autoimmune disorder
• Hyponyms: ↑psoriatic arthritis, ↑Still's disease, ↑juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Useful english dictionary. 2012.