title: Older versus younger onset rheumatoid arthritis: results at onset and after 2 years of a prospective followup study of early rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The influence of age at onset was studied in a prospective followup of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients greater than or equal to 60 years (n = 71) showed significantly more often an onset in both large and small joints and higher disease activity at the start compared with patients less than 60 years (n = 142). The higher disease activity was still present after 2 years of followup (greater than or equal to 60 years, n = 46, less than 60 years, n = 101); as well, there was a tendency towards more radiographic damage. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and DR4 were comparable in both age groups. Our data show a more severe course in older age RA. This disagreement with the literature is probably due to the fact that many studies are cross sectional with unbalance of RF in the 2 age groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: van der Heijde
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: van Riel
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van 't Hof
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van Rijswijk
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: van de Putte
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001175:Arthrography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor