Dictionary

1. (

• rheumatism

) any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues ;

2. (

• rheumatoid_arthritis ,
• atrophic_arthritis ,
• rheumatism ,

) a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint ;