RESEARCH - How should we manage early RA? From imaging to intervention.

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Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005 May;17(3):280-5.

How should we manage early rheumatoid arthritis? From imaging to

intervention.

Keen HI, Emery P.

Academic Unit of Musculoskeletal Disease, Department of Rheumatology, Leeds

General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic and

progressive inflammatory disorder of the synovium characterised by

destruction of bone and cartilage. It is associated with significant

morbidity and economic costs. Recent advances have shown that early

diagnosis and timely, intensive therapy of rheumatoid arthritis can modify

disease outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: Current investigations into the role of

ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in early rheumatoid arthritis

suggest these modalities will provide information to assist in the early

diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, identify poor prognostic factors, and aid

in the monitoring of response to therapy. New developments in pharmacologic

therapy, particularly the development of biologic agents, allow better

disease control than was previously achievable, and the early application of

these drugs in combination with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic

drugs seems to produce the best outcomes.

SUMMARY: The application of novel imaging techniques will aid the target

application of biologic therapy within the window of opportunity and aid in

the monitoring of response to therapy. This is likely to significantly

decrease the rate of structural damage and offers hope of a future when the

normal outcome for rheumatoid arthritis will be remission.

PMID: 15838237

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5838237 & dopt=Abstract

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org