Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy bodily tissue. However, it is unknown what causes this.
Antibodies are produced by your immune system to help fight illness by attacking bacteria and viruses.
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system releases antibodies to the inside of your joints, where they assault the surrounding tissue.
The thin layer of cells covering your joints (synovium) becomes inflamed and painful, producing chemicals that harm neighbouring bones, cartilage, and ligaments.