Author:
MJAAVATTEN MARIA DAHL,HAUGEN ANNE JULSRUD,HELGETVEIT KNUT,NYGAARD HALVOR,SIDENVALL GÖRAN,UHLIG TILL,KVIEN TORE KRISTIAN
Abstract
Objective.To investigate the distribution of joint involvement in a cohort of patients with very recent onset arthritis and describe the disease characteristics in these patients.Methods.A very early arthritis clinic (NOR-VEAC) was established as a multicenter study. General practitioners were asked to refer patients presenting with at least 1 swollen joint of maximum 16 weeks’ duration. Clinical and laboratory markers were examined.Results.We included 634 patients during the first 3 years, with mean (25th–75th percentile) arthritis duration of 30 (11–63) days. Monoarthritis was present in 243 (38.3%) patients, 216 (34.1%) had oligoarthritis, and 175 (27.6%) polyarthritis. Patients with polyarthritis were older, had longer duration of arthritis, and were more frequently anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and rheumatoid factor-positive. Patients in all 3 joint pattern groups (mono-/oligo-/polyarthritis) reported substantial effect on physical function, pain, and fatigue and had elevated levels of acute-phase reactants. Knee or ankle arthritis was most frequent in patients with mono- and oligoarthritis, whereas small joint involvement was most frequent in patients with polyarthritis.Conclusion.Patients with recent-onset arthritis report a substantial influence on health status. Mono- and oligoarthritis are at least as frequent as polyarthritis. Polyarthritic patients more frequently exhibit features associated with a worse outcome.
Publisher
The Journal of Rheumatology
Subject
Immunology,Immunology and Allergy,Rheumatology
Cited by
23 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献