Untreated RA - Rick

[Guest guest]

Hospital for Special Surgery

Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Patient's Reference

February 14, 2003

http://rheumatology.hss.edu/pat/diseaseReviews/rheumArth/rheumArth_pat.asp

An excerpt:

" The reason why we are now quite aggressive in our approach to the

treatment of RA is found in the following facts:

If not treated quickly, as many as 80% of patients will develop

erosions in their joints in the first 2 years after RA begins;

If left untreated, over 50% of patients have to stop work within

5 to 10 years of the onset of RA;

Active and persistent joint inflammation begets joint damage and

functional limitation.

Today, with our new medications and a proactive approach to early

therapy, equally aggressive to the disease itself, we can avoid the

development of erosions, joint deformities, functional limitation and

loss of work. "

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org