title: Rheumatoid nodules and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis females - complex assessment.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents the most commonly diagnosed arthropathy that affect many tissue types and organs, characterized by a clinical, functional and therapeutic pathogenic complexity and it affects especially diarthroidal joints. Rheumatoid nodules (RNs) are one of the most frequent extra-articular manifestations of RA, and usually reflect an advanced stage of the disease and a poor prognosis. The complexity of histological, clinical and functional aspects in RA has a real impact on the quality of life in all patients diagnosed with this disorder. Our prospective study presents the RNs involvement in the rehabilitation program performed in order to enhance the quality of life in the 25 RA female patients. We made a complex assessment and realized a correlation between pain, disability and histological aspect of RN, before and after the rehabilitation program. Also, we evaluated the clinical and functional effectiveness of a complex rehabilitation program and changes in impairment and activity limitation in women with RA and RNs. The immunohistological complexity of RNs reflects the intensity of the inflammatory-immune process and completes the assessment of RA patients with RNs. It allows for medical assistance quantification, even for patients that have a poor evolution prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania; rodicatraistru@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Magdalena Rodica
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Trăistaru
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Diana Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Traşcă
authors.forename: Maria Camelia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Foarfă
authors.forename: Corina Lavinia
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gruia
authors.forename: Otilia Constantina
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Rogoveanu
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD