title: Diagnosis and classification of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease of unclear etiology that is manifested in by a progressive and destructive polyarthritis in association with serological evidence of autoreactivity. Its diagnosis is based on the classification criteria that involve four parameters: joint involvement, serology (rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide--anti-CCP), levels of acute phase reactants and the duration of the symptoms Aletaha, et al. [1]. This classification simplifies the categorization of the patients with early RA; however, the diagnosis requires highly trained specialists who are able to differentiate early symptoms of RA from other pathologies.
authors.affiliation: State University, Cuenca, Ecuador; Center of Translational Medicine, State University, UNERA (Unit of Rheumatic Disease and Autoimmunity), Medical Corporation Mount Sinai, Cuenca, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kourilovitch
authors.affiliation: State University, Cuenca, Ecuador; Center of Translational Medicine, State University, UNERA (Unit of Rheumatic Disease and Autoimmunity), Medical Corporation Mount Sinai, Cuenca, Ecuador. Electronic address: claudiogalarza@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galarza-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Universidad de las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Prado
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D013585:Synovitis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
keywords: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP); Classification criteria; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid factor