A40 year old woman presents to the clinic complaining of morning stiffness, fatigue, and loss of energy. physical exam reveals hard, swollen joints, limited range of motion, deformity of the interphalangeal joints, fever, and systemic inflammatory responses. laboratory results indicate an elevated sedimentation rate. the healthcare provider should suspect which of the following diseases?

a. gout
b. systemic lupus erythematosus
c. osteoarthritis
d. rheumatoid arthritis