Rheumatoid arthritis: what has changed?

Excerpt

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis affecting approximately 1% of the population. The diagnosis of RA still evokes a picture of a patient crippled with bilateral, symmetric deformities of hands and feet in the mind of most doctors. Less than 15 years ago, RA was regarded as a chronic destructive disease leading to joint deformities and severe functional decline with work disability reported in 60% of patients after 10 years [1]. As a systemic disorder, it has also been linked to multiple organ system complications and increased mortality, predominantly due to accelerated cardiovascular disease. …