Are any areas of the body other than joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis?

Although RA is associated with joint disorders, the disease can also affect other parts of the body. The eyes, lungs, and heart, as well as other organs can be affected. Lumps of inflamed tissue called rheumatoid nodules often form under the skin near affected joints, but they can also occur in other areas of the body, such as the lungs.^[1] Additionally, RA can cause vasculitis (i.e., inflammation of the blood vessels) and patients have been reported to develop fibromyalgia. Cardiovascular disease and lung disorders are also more common with RA.