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Open Access 01-03-2015 | Review Article

Rheumatoid arthritis in Latin America: the importance of an early diagnosis

Authors: Licia Maria Henrique da Mota, Claiton Viegas Brenol, Penelope Palominos, Geraldo da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro

Published in: Clinical Rheumatology | Special Issue 1/2015

Abstract

The generalization of the early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) concept and the existence of a window of therapeutic opportunity—a time span in which the institution of a proper therapeutic method for the disease would determine clinical improvement—have set the notion that early diagnosis and treatment may modify the course of the disease. Although in several regions of the world, especially in North America and Europe, since the year 2000, a significant reduction in diagnostic delay was observed in cohorts of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), probably reflecting a stronger awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, this is not a reality in Latin America (LA). LA is a region of great economic inequality, with disparities in access to the public healthcare system and limited access to private medicine, being widely difficult to obtain a specialized medical evaluation in both scenarios. This paper aims to briefly review the main difficulties in the management of ERA in LA, based on the review of the literature, on the evaluation of a survey conducted among 214 rheumatologists of LA, members of Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) and the experience of the authors. The paper also aims to propose solutions to the difficulties in managing ERA in LA.

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Title: Rheumatoid arthritis in Latin America: the importance of an early diagnosis
Authors: Licia Maria Henrique da Mota
Claiton Viegas Brenol
Penelope Palominos
Geraldo da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro
Publication date: 01-03-2015
Publisher: Springer London
Published in: Clinical Rheumatology / Issue Special Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0770-3198
Electronic ISSN: 1434-9949
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3015-x

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