> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.snomed.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/domain-specific-modeling/clinical-finding-and-disorder/clinical-finding-and-disorder-modeling/specific-clinical-finding-and-disorder-modeling/rheumatoid-arthritis.md).

# Rheumatoid arthritis

<mark style="color:$danger;">**This Editorial Guide is used for Education Purposes Only. It is used in the Authoring Courses and Certifications. It is based on the January 2026 Editorial Guide.**</mark>

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder; the exact etiology is unknown. RA is a disease primarily of the joints and is clinically known as an 'arthritis' although extra-articular manifestations occur. Extra-articular features include nodules, carditis and pericarditis, vasculitis, lung disorders, and other manifestations.

69896004 |Rheumatoid arthritis (disorder)| remains a primitive concept in SNOMED CT and must be stated as a parent (IS A relationship) for all rheumatoid arthritis concepts.

For example,

201776007 |Rheumatoid arthritis of sacroiliac joint (disorder)|

<figure><img src="https://3063935683-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSZh4aZdgpviXMYp37bCy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-aa60627a8a854600fb3ce9b2f65378537faed7f9%2Fimage%20(131).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://github.com/SNOMED-Documents/snomed-editorial-guide/blob/main/authoring/clinical-finding-and-disorder/images/174690543.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Figure. Stated view of 201776007 |Rheumatoid arthritis of sacroiliac joint (disorder)|</p></figcaption></figure>

Example of extra-articular rheumatoid manifestation,

28880005 |Rheumatoid arthritis with carditis (disorder)|

<figure><img src="https://3063935683-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSZh4aZdgpviXMYp37bCy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ef8108d998a20006a976c6749af690dee97177a5%2Fimage%20(132).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://github.com/SNOMED-Documents/snomed-editorial-guide/blob/main/authoring/clinical-finding-and-disorder/images/174690542.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Figure: Stated view of 28880005 |Rheumatoid arthritis with carditis (disorder)|</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
410795001 |Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (disorder)| has been inactivated with an inactivation reason of *Outdated* with a target replacement of 410502007 |Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (disorder)|. Subtypes of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (disorder) are now modeled to reflect the up-to-date classification of this disorder.
{% endhint %}

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