Can RA involve internal organs?
Some patients with RA develop more generalized disease in which internal organs can be inflamed and damaged. This is quite rare, and rarer still today with our new therapies. Some of the patients who develop this problem have little nodules under the skin of their forearms. Internal problems can include: lung inflammation; nerve irritation called neuropathy; eye inflammation called scleritis; and dry eyes or dry mouth due to Sjogren’s syndrome. Each of these problems can be treated with many of the newer medications available for RA.
