AEMCA Practice Exam

What type of disease is rheumatoid arthritis?

1. A bacterial infection

2. An autoimmune disease

3. A viral disease

4. A genetic disorder

The correct answer is: An autoimmune disease

Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease because it arises when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own joint tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and eventual joint damage. In autoimmune conditions, the immune response is misdirected, resulting in the immune cells attacking normal cells of the body rather than pathogens. This dysregulation is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis exemplifies this by targeting the synovial tissues in the joints. The other options—bacterial infection, viral disease, and genetic disorder—do not accurately describe the underlying mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis. While genetic factors can contribute to the susceptibility of developing the disease, the primary classification of rheumatoid arthritis rests in its autoimmune nature, distinguishing it from infectious or purely genetic disorders.