Can we predict aggressive disease?
This chapter will describe the reasons why prognostic factors that predict aggressive disease are helpful and what the problems are in interpreting studies in this field. A summary of cohort studies on prognosis of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis are presented. This is done separately for studies predicting radiographic damage, functional outcome and mortality. The overall conclusions of these studies and the value they have for the clinician are demonstrated.
Young
A
A
Department of Rheumatology, City Hospital, St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK.
van der Heijde
D M
DM
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors