New England Journal of Medicine. They could lead to better predictions of rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups, as well as possible therapies to target the causes of the condition.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune condition.
In autoimmune conditions, a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. This causes inflammation.In rheumatoid arthritis, this inflammation typically affects a person’s joints — particularly the wrists, hands, and knees.