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.

Methotrexate is the anchor drug for the treatment of RA.

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;358:903-911. 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;15:139-170. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11358420?tool=bestpractice.com RA is a clinical diagnosis with laboratory and radiographic tests helping to confirm the diagnosis and providing useful prognostic information.