title: [Early diagnosis and treatment of the bone and cartilage lesions in rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic destructive synovitis affecting the bone and joints. The early suppression of disease activity during the first several months in RA has been reported to be exclusively important to prevent joint destruction and functional decline. Effective treatment of active RA requires early diagnosis. Diagnostic criteria for early RA was proposed in Japan, and this criteria has still problems for accurate diagnosis. Some new diagnositic methods have been developed such as MRI evaluation of joints and nti-CCP antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kitasato University.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Hirobumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo