Rheumatoid arthritis

A chronic, erosive arthritis that requires early and aggressive treatment.

Diagnosed clinically. Laboratory and radiographic testing provide prognostic information more often than diagnostic information.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are the mainstay of management. Methotrexate is commonly used first line; various other agents, including biologic agents and small molecule drugs, can be prescribed concomitantly.

Disease activity scores (e.g., 28-joint count version of disease activity score [DAS28], clinical disease activity index [CDAI], simplified disease activity index [SDAI], routine assessment patient index data [RAPID3]) are used routinely to provide optimum care for RA patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting around 1% of the population, making it the most common inflammatory arthritis seen by physicians.[1]Lee DM, Weinblatt ME. Rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2001 Sep 15;358(9285):903-11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11567728?tool=bestpractice.com It primarily affects the small joints of the hands and feet and, if not treated aggressively, can be a major cause of work loss, decreased quality of life, need for joint replacement surgery, and mortality.[2]Pincus T, Sokka T. How can the risk of long-term consequences of rheumatoid arthritis be reduced? Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2001 Mar;15(1):139-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11358420?tool=bestpractice.com RA is a clinical diagnosis; laboratory and radiographic tests help to confirm the diagnosis and provide useful prognostic information.