Rheumatoid Arthritis
Background: RA is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation
of the joints and surrounding tissues. If not controlled, it can also cause deformity
of the joints, and/or affect other organs, RA can occur at any age, but is more
common in middle ages with 3:1 ratio of women to men, and no cure treatment
available.
Model: Collagen induced arthritis (CIA)
Standard study duration: 8 weeks.
Clinical endpoint: Joint swelling, arthritic scoring, X-ray, CT, histology…
Features: High incidence (80% +), affect primarily smaller
joints, human-like rheumatoid nodules, secondary disease (anemia)…