EDITORIAL - On rheumatoid arthritis treatment and prognosis

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" Advances in the Treatment of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis "

American Family Physician

September 15, 2005

Editorial

EDWARD M. J. VITAL, M.B.CH.B.

The General Infirmary at Leeds

Leeds, United Kingdom

PAUL EMERY, M.A., M.D.

University of Leeds Faculty of Medicine and Health

Leeds, United Kingdom

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common reversible disability in the world,

and its economic burden has been estimated to be between $3,600 and $60,300

annually per patient.1 In this issue of AFP, Drs. Rindfleisch and Muller2

summarize the approach to the patient with newly diagnosed rheumatoid

arthritis. Developments in therapies for rheumatoid arthritis provide the

opportunity not only to ameliorate inflammation and improve short-term

quality of life for patients, but also to change the course of the disease

to prevent joint destruction and long-term disability. The key to this

approach has been the recognition of the " window of opportunity, " the

critical stage of early disease when patients are most responsive to

treatment and have the most potential for lifelong benefit.3 We are entering

an era in which remission rather than control of symptoms can be the aim of

therapy; however, with increasingly complex treatments, early diagnosis and

intervention are more important than ever.

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For the rest of the editorial, please see:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050915/editorials.html

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