[Rheumatoid arthritis: early detection may nip it in the bud].
The finding that IgM-rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide were present in stored blood samples in a significant number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis years before the manifestation of the disease, suggests the disease has a long pre-clinical phase. It might thus be possible to prevent clinical disease by initiating treatment in this pre-clinical phase. Recently a Dutch clinical trial was started with this objective. Patients at risk will be randomised to receive dexamethasone or placebo treatment.
Bijlsma
J W J
JW
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, afd. Reumatologie en Klinische Immunologie, Postbus 85.500, 3508 GA Utrecht. j.w.j.bijlsma@azu.nl
Jacobs
J W G
JW
Kruize
A A
AA
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002956:Citrulline / Q000276:immunology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D009426:Netherlands; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D002956:Citrulline; D003907:Dexamethasone; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor