Resource A Brief (and Surprisingly Interesting) History of Rheumatoid Arthritis Print Blog by Geoff West Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) may be something we think of as a very modern condition—especially with today’s treatments, research studies, and awareness campaigns—but its story stretches much farther back in time. So this UK Disability History Month we’ve decided to hop into our extremely nerdy time machine and check out how the story of RA unfolded. Early Clues Long before doctors had formal names for diseases, people were describing symptoms that sound a lot like what we now call rheumatoid arthritis. There have been lots of reports of skeletal remains from indigenous populations in North America that show evidence of joint damage resembling RA. Interestingly, these signs aren’t seen in European skeletons of the same era. This has led some researchers to believe RA may have originated in the Americas and spread later through global trade. However, there has been recent conflicting reports as to whether or not these claims have been officially confirmed. The earliest official records which describe RA symptoms date back to the 13th Century, in which medieval medical texts describe chronic, symmetrical joint pain. While these descriptions are vague, they hint that RA—or something close to it—was already affecting people. The Condition Gets a Name The first major turning point came when physicians started recognising RA as something distinct from other joint diseases, like gout. In 1800, a French physician, Dr. Augustin-Jacob Landré-Beauvais, described a new form of arthritis seen in women at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. He noticed the inflammation, deformities, and symmetry in affected joints and gave it the name “goutte asthénique primitive”. Later that century, in 1859 – British doctor Sir Alfred Baring Garrod coined the term, “rheumatoid arthritis”, which distinguished it from gout and establishing RA as its own unique condition. Understanding the Immune System’s Role Red blood cells. Once RA had a name, doctors wanted to know what caused it. Between 1900 and 1930, researchers began to suspect RA was more than just “wear and tear.” They observed that it affected young adults, especially women, and seemed to involve the whole body—not just the joints. Until in 1938, two scientists, Rosenberg and Lurie, demonstrated that RA might involve the immune system reacting against the body itself. This was a huge step toward understanding RA and the first time it was considered as an autoimmune disease. Treatment Breakthroughs Begin Around the mid 1900’s, some major medical milestones were discovered that shaped the way RA is treated today. In 1948, Cortisone was introduced and quickly became known as a miracle drug for reducing inflammation. It changed lives—but long-term side effects meant new therapies were still needed. Enter, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate which were developed and first used to treat RA shortly after 1950. These medications didn’t just reduce symptoms—they helped slow the progression of the disease. A game changer for everyone living with rheumatoid arthritis! The Era of Modern Rheumatology The 1980’s was arguably one of the most transformative decades, not only from a cultural standpoint, but also in rheumatology itself. Specialised rheumatology clinics and research groups formed around the world and by 1987 – The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released the first standardised criteria for diagnosing RA, helping many patients receive earlier and more accurate diagnoses. An example of a modern auto-injector pen of a anti-TNF biologic. Following on from this, the dawn of biologic medicines, with the anti-TNFs being the first to be introduced for RA, starting with infliximab, in 1999 – once again, drastically improving the quality of life for many people with RA. What is happening today? Modern RA treatment focuses on early detection, tailored therapy and not just maintaining mobility, but quality of life. Scientists are exploring genetic factors, gut bacteria, and immunotherapies that could one day prevent RA entirely—or perhaps even cure it. We’ve come a long way from vague descriptions in medieval manuscripts. Today, people with RA have more options and support than ever before, and the research continues to move forward. Let’s hope future historians can write about a new era, where RA finally met it’s match. Despite so much history surrounding RA, there are still lots of people who don’t understand what it is, or how it can be treated. To make it easy to explain, take a quick look at our video below which explains ‘What is RA?’ in 60 seconds! What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)? | 60 Second Series Click to close video modal Close The Story Isn’t Over The history of rheumatoid arthritis reminds us that medical knowledge is always evolving. What once was a mysterious and disabling condition is now highly manageable for many—thanks to centuries of curiosity, patience, and scientific progress. And with the pace of research today, the next chapter could be the most exciting yet. If you enjoyed this blog and want to take a more in depth look at the different RA medications, please view our Medicines section of the website below. RA medication RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X for more useful tips and tricks for managing your RA, and lots more content going into the new year! 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RA medication RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen.
RA medication RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen.