Title:Weight Bearing Joints Destruction In Rheumatoid Arthritis
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Author(s): Takashi Imagama, Atsunori Tokushige, Kazushige Seki and Toshihiko Taguchi
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Joint destruction, pharmacotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis, synovium, treatment strategy, weight bearing joint.
Abstract: In many cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints of the upper extremities are affected.
However, involvement of weight bearing joints of the lower extremities is strongly associated
with a decreased activities of daily living ability such as gait disorder. Once the progression of weight
bearing joint destruction occurs, lower extremity function will decrease even if RA disease activity is
improved by pharmacotherapy. In this article, we investigated joint destruction suppressing effects of
pharmacotherapy on the hip and knee joints, as well as risk factors for joint destruction. We also discuss
surgical treatment strategies and clinical outcomes for progressive joint destruction.