title: [Chronic polyarthritis in advanced age].
abstract: Approximately a quarter of polyarthritis in the elderly is beginning with a single- or oligo-articular attack of big joints. The first attack of the shoulder joints is noticed especially in men. Most of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly have a gradually progressive course. There is often showed a very high blood sedimentation rate (BSR); rheumatoid factor is rare. Generally there is a strongly marked osteoporosis. The success of therapy with disease modifying agents is comparable with that of younger patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but there is a smaller tolerance to gold and D-penicillamine. In some non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs a lower dosage is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitations-zentrum für rheumatische Erkrankungen, Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institut für Rehabilitation interner Erkrankungen, Saalfelden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thumb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
vernacular_title: Die chronische Polyarthritis im höheren Lebensalter.