rheumatism
1. [ noun ] (medicine) any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues
Related terms: disease
2. [ noun ] (medicine,immunology) 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 can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
Synonyms: atrophic_arthritis rheumatoid_arthritis
Related terms: arthritis autoimmune_disease psoriatic_arthritis Still's_disease autoimmune_disease virus
Similar spelling:   rheumatic