rheumatoid factor An antibody that is measurable in the blood and is used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor is present in about 80 percent of adults, and a much lower proportion of children, who have rheumatoid arthritis. It is also present in patients with other connective-tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and in…
rheumatism, regional Rheumatism in a larger region, such as chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndrome pain.
rheumatism, psychogenic Rheumatism in which the patient reports inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for these symptoms.
rheumatism An older term used to describe a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones. Rheumatic conditions have been classified as localized (confined to a specific location, such as bursitis and tendonitis), regional (in a larger region, such as chest wall pain), or generalized (affecting many and diverse parts of the body,…
rheumatic heart disease Heart damage caused by rheumatic fever. Treatment involves prevention of reinfection with streptococcus and use of medications to treat any heart complications, as needed.
rheumatic fever An illness that occurs in the wake of a streptococcus infection (strep throat, or related condition) or scarlet fever, primarily in children. Symptoms include fever, pain in the joints, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Rheumatic fever can cause long-lasting effects in the joints, heart, brain, and skin. Rheumatic fever may be followed by…
rhabdomyosarcoma, embryonal See sarcoma botryoides.
rhabdomyosarcoma A fast-growing malignancy of muscle that mainly affects children (more than 60 percent of cases are diagnosed before age 10) but can occur at any age. Treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and, most often, a combination of these modes of treatment. The outlook depends on a number of factors, including the original location of…
rhabdomyolysis A condition in which skeletal muscle is broken down, releasing muscle enzymes and electrolytes from inside the muscle cells. Risks of rhabdomyolysis include muscle breakdown and kidney failure because the cellular component myoglobin is toxic to the kidneys. Rhabdomyolysis is relatively uncommon, but it most often occurs as the result of extensive muscle damage…
Rh incompatibility A difference in Rh blood group types between an Rh- mother and her Rh+ baby that leads to hemolytic disease of the newborn. See also hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Rh factor An antigen found in the red blood cells of most people. Those who have Rh factor are said to be Rh positive (Rh+), and those who do not are Rh negative (Rh-). Blood used in transfusions must match donors for Rh status as well as for ABO blood group because Rh- patients will…
RF Rheumatoid factor.