Late onset rheumatoid arthritis--a clinical and laboratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical and laboratory profile of late onset rheumatoid arthritis in comparison with early onset rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Fifty patients who satisfied 1988 American College of Rheumatology criteria for rheumatoid arthritis with the disease onset at 60 years or over were studied. Handred cases of early onset rheumatoid arthritis were taken as controls. All of them were followed up for 18 months.


RESULTS
Female to male ratio was 1.6:1 in late onset rheumatoid arthritis and 4:1 in early onset group. Shoulder joint involvement was 48% in late onset and 28% in early onset rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factors was positive in 36% cases in late onset compared to 60% in controls. Most other clinical, laboratory and radiological features were comparable in both the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Late onset rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by a less female preponderance, more shoulder joint involvement and more seronegativity.
Narayanan
K
K
Department of Rheumatology, Madras Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai.
Rajendran
C P
CP
Porkodi
R
R
Madhavan
R
R
D017668:Age of Onset; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology
D012217:Rheumatoid Factor