How can/does rheumatoid arthritis affect the

[Part Time Cynic]

organs? Someone called it a 'systemic effect', what did they mean?And which organs are/can be affected?

[sashs.geo]

systemic in this sense means that it affects the entire body (or can do at least)Osteoarthritis (there are 100+ kinds) affects individual joints and is a result of wear and tear (hence old people having hip replacements) or after injury so a joint that has been damaged in a football match can become arthritic.in rheumatoid disease there is an inflammation of the joints not caused by injury. It can affect other organs as well eg the heart. It can be identified by blood test. It is also the tye of arthritis most common in children.