Rheumatoid Arthritis in Spanish

What it means

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. It is an autoimmune disease: the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) explains that RA occurs when the immune system, which normally helps protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues. It is most common in the wrist and fingers, and it often occurs in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that if one knee or hand has the condition, the other is often also affected. RA may cause fatigue, occasional fevers, and a loss of appetite. MedlinePlus says RA differs from osteoarthritis, a common arthritis that often comes with age, and that there is no cure, but early treatment can help manage symptoms and reduce joint damage.

Spanish term: Artritis Reumatoide
Gender and article: feminine: la artritis reumatoide
Pronunciation: ar-TREE-tees rreh-oo-mah-TOY-deh

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
AR	General	Abbreviation that MedlinePlus en español gives in parentheses after the full name.
artritis reumatoidea	General	Form used in the title and text of the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia article, which lists Artritis reumatoide among its alternative names.

Artritis reumatoide is feminine: la artritis reumatoide. The cited pages print the second word with a lowercase r, including in the MedlinePlus en español page title. The Spanish dictionary has an entry for artritis reumatoide under artritis, marked as a feminine medical term and defined as a chronic disease of the joints. MedlinePlus en español abbreviates it AR, where English uses RA. Its encyclopedia article is titled Artritis reumatoidea, with an a at the end, and lists Artritis reumatoide among its alternative names.

Words that go with it in MedlinePlus en español: enfermedad autoinmune (autoimmune disease); dolor, inflamación y rigidez en las articulaciones (pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints); nódulos reumatoides (rheumatoid nodules), described as hard bumps under the skin near the joints; and osteoartritis (osteoarthritis), which it says is a different condition. The specialist is un reumatólogo, explained there as a specialist in arthritis care.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Patient	In the morning my hands are stiff and they hurt.	Por la mañana tengo las manos rígidas y me duelen.
Clinician	Does it affect both hands or only one?	¿Le afecta las dos manos o solo una?
Patient	Both hands, and both knees too.	Las dos manos, y también las dos rodillas.
Clinician	Has anyone in your family had rheumatoid arthritis?	¿Alguien en su familia ha tenido artritis reumatoide?
Patient	My aunt has rheumatoid arthritis. Is it the same as osteoarthritis?	Mi tía tiene artritis reumatoide. ¿Es lo mismo que la osteoartritis?
Clinician	No. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.	No. La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad autoinmune.
Clinician	I am going to order blood tests and X-rays of your hands.	Voy a pedirle análisis de sangre y radiografías de las manos.
Clinician	I am going to refer you to a specialist in arthritis care.	Voy a remitirle a un especialista en el cuidado de la artritis.

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Rheumatoid Arthritis
Spanish (Español)	Artritis Reumatoide
Chinese (中文)	類風濕性關節炎
Korean (한국어)	류마티스 관절염
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Viêm khớp dạng thấp
Filipino (Tagalog)	Rayumatoyid na Artritis
Portuguese (Português)	Artrite Reumatoide
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	โรคข้ออักเสบรูมาตอยด์
Japanese (日本語)	関節リウマチ

Where you'll see it

chartEOBreferralmedical record

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: M05 → Rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Bones, joints and muscles

All terms in this area: Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.