THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF JOINT INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS RELATED TO RADIOLOGICAL PROGRESSION
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Andrew Brook; Adam Young; Mary Corbett
- Source
- Rheumatology. 19:14-19
- Subject
- Male
musculoskeletal diseases
medicine.medical_specialty
Osteoporosis
Disease
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Joint disease
Rheumatology
Internal medicine
medicine
Humans
Pharmacology (medical)
Prospective cohort study
Inflammation
Foot
business.industry
Hand
medicine.disease
Clinical method
Radiography
Radiological weapon
Rheumatoid arthritis
Physical therapy
Joint disorder
Female
business
- Language
- ISSN
- 1462-0332
1462-0324
A simple clinical method for the assessment of joint disease activity is described, and analysed with respect to radiological progression of erosive disease. Ninety-four patients with rheumatoid arthritis attending a special research clinic as part of a prospective study were studied over a three-year period. A significant correlation was found between clinical activity, assessed at intervals of four months, and progressive erosive disease but not with juxta-articular osteoporosis. This clinical method compares favourably with a modification of the articular index described by the Cooperating Clinics of North America.