title: Potential impact of observational cohort studies in Japan on rheumatoid arthritis research and practice.
abstract: For better management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we need information both from well-designed clinical trials, such as randomized controlled trials, and from observational cohorts. Observational cohort study has not been developed in Japanese RA patients; however, two cohorts, IORRA (formerly J-ARAMIS) from 2000 and NinJa by iR-net from 2002, have been established. These two cohorts are an important source not only for better management of Japanese RA patients but also for solutions to a variety of issues concerning RA clinical practice in general. In this minireview, necessities of observational cohort studies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 10-22 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0054, Japan. yamanaka@ior.twmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tohma
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents