title: [Are useful prognostic factors in rheumatoid arthritis?].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, which predominantly affects joints and that confers poor functional and vital outcome. In many patients the inflammatory process is maintained for years, and results in joint destruction and long-term functional disability. Prognostic factors (PF) are demographic, clinical, laboratory and/or radiographic and should be evaluated at the onset of the disease, providing the physician prospective information on patient outcome. The challenge for the rheumatologist is to identify patients who present a poor prognosis in early rheumatoid arthritis and formulate treatment accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. mrobustillo@bellvitgehospital.cat
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robustillo Villarino
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Moreno
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents