A 56-year-old woman presents to her physician complaining of weight gain and joint problems.She is increasingly having difficulty walking up stairs and manipulating her fingers.Fingers in both hands as well as knees on both legs are equally painful and stiff.The symptoms have been getting progressively worse over the past 6 months.Rheumatoid factor is elevated,and antinuclear antibodies are not detected.Complement levels in her joints are decreased.This woman most likely has:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are classic for rheumatoid arthritis, including joint pain and stiffness, particularly in the hands and knees. Elevated rheumatoid factor and decreased complement levels in the joints are also consistent with this diagnosis. Systemic lupus erythematosus and Wegener's granulomatosis may have joint involvement but would typically involve other organs as well. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a thyroid disorder and would not cause these specific joint symptoms.

A 56-Year-Old Woman Presents to Her Physician Complaining of Weight