Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Emily A Littlejohn; Seetha U Monrad

doi:10.1016/j.pop.2018.02.010

Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Prim Care. 2018 Jun;45(2):237-255. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2018.02.010.

Authors

Emily A Littlejohn¹, Seetha U Monrad²

Affiliations

¹ Rheumatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Cleveland Clinic, Orthopaedic and Rheumatologic Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue/A50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
² Division of Rheumatology, Michigan Medicine, 7D08 North Ingalls Building, 300 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: seetha@med.umich.edu.

PMID: 29759122
DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2018.02.010

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory arthritis, and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Primary care providers should be able to distinguish the clinical presentation of rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis, because the treatment and outcomes differ greatly between these 2 common forms of arthritis. This article provides a current overview of our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis, with an emphasis on early diagnosis and approaches to treatment.

Keywords: Biologic agents; Diagnostic criteria; Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; Extra-articular manifestations; Rheumatoid arthritis; Synovitis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / diagnosis*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
Diagnosis, Differential
Disease Progression
Early Diagnosis*
Humans
Prognosis

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Antirheumatic Agents