Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- active symmetric arthritis lasting >6 weeks
- age 50 to 55 years
- female gender
- joint pain
- joint swelling
Other diagnostic factors
- morning stiffness
- swan neck deformity
- Boutonniere deformity
- ulnar deviation
- rheumatoid nodules
- vasculitic lesions
- pleuritic chest pain
- scleritis and/or uveitis
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- rheumatoid factor (RF)
- anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody
- radiographs
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors VIEW ALL
Director
Seligman Center for Advanced Therapeutics
Director
Behcet's Syndrome Evaluation Treatment and Research Center
New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases
New York
NY
Disclosures
YY receives research support from BMS, Celgene, and Genentech.
Peer reviewers VIEW ALL
Consultant Rheumatologist
Department of Rheumatology
Royal Derby Hospital
Derby
UK
Disclosures
CD has received honoraria for talks at symposia sponsored by Wyeth and Abbott.
Consultant Rheumatologist
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Senior Lecturer in Rheumatology
Botnar Research Centre
University of Oxford
Oxford
UK
Disclosures
RL declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Medicine
Section of Rheumatology
University of Wisconsin
Madison
WI
Disclosures
AB has received fees for speaking and consulting from Abbott, BMS, UCB, and Genentech.
Emeritus Professor of Rheumatic Diseases
School of Clinical Sciences
University of Bristol
Bristol
UK
Disclosures
JK declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Rheumatology
Arthritis Research UK
Director
Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine
University of Leeds
Director
Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Leeds
UK
Disclosures
Not disclosed.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis
MO
Disclosures
PR declares that she has no competing interests.
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