Rheumatic disease in the elderly: rheumatoid arthritis.
This article summarizes the different aspects of rheumatoid arthritis and the spectrum of diseases that can present as rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly population. With the ageing of the western population, different forms of inflammatory arthritis' prevalence and incidence are increasing in elderly persons. Difficulties in establishing the diagnosis and introducing new treatment modalities in this patient group pose a great challenge for clinicians. The management of inflammatory arthritis in the elderly requires special consideration in regard to the comorbidities and increased frequency of adverse events. There is substantial need for improving aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions that will reduce the impact of inflammatory arthritis in the growing elderly population.
Tutuncu
Zuhre
Z
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0943, USA.
Kavanaugh
Arthur
A
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents