Current diagnosis and treatment strategies in rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that preferentially targets the synovial lining of the joints but can affect other organ systems including the lungs, heart and blood vessels.

Abstract

RA affects an estimated 0.5 - 1% of the general population and twice as many women as men. The usual age of onset is between the third and fifth decade of life. RA is the most common and most serious inflammatory arthritis that, if left untreated, will lead to irreversible joint damage, functional impairment and increased mortality. The outcome of the disease has improved considerably in recent years with the availability of effective therapies and the recognition that early intensive treatment strategies result in better outcomes. Patients with inflammatory arthritis should be seen early and treated at the earliest opportunity. The initial aim should be to differentiate features of early RA from other diseases with similar presentations, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and from those that will remit spontaneously. Patients with RA requiring therapy should be treated with the aim to induce remission to prevent joint damage, disability and longterm complications of the disease. 1 This article outlines the current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in RA.