 Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a long-term autoimmune disease that is characterized by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints. RA usually requires lifelong treatment, including medications, physical therapy, exercise, education, and possibly surgery, but the course and severity of the disease can differ significantly from person to person. The purpose of this study is to identify genetic and other factors that determine the severity of RA in African Americans. 