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Medical Definition of Arthritis deformans
1. A systemic disease, seen more commonly in women which affects connective tissue, particularly the synovial tissue within joints. Arthritis is the main clinical feature and involves many joints in the body, especially those of the hand and feet. In this disease, there is thickening of the soft tissues around the joints and extension of the synovial tissue over articular cartilage (which becomes eroded). A chronic and progressive course is common with joint deformities and disability. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a variant which affects children. (27 Sep 1997)