OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of undifferentiated monoarthritis of more than 3 months' duration and to evaluate the usefulness of classic diagnostic tools for identifying factors associated with outcomes. METHOD: Retrospective study of 46 patients with undifferentiated monoarthritis of more than 3 months' duration. RESULTS: Full resolution was the outcome in 50% of cases. Rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathy were the most common diagnoses in the remaining patients. HLA-B27 status was the only significant predictor of outcome: progression to spondyloarthropathy was significantly more common (P = 0.05) among HLA-B27-positive patients. Mean time to full recovery was significantly shorter than mean time to disease progression (12 vs. 45 months, P = 0.0015). Intraarticular glucocorticoid injections were effective in over 50% of patients. Arthritis relief during the month following the injection was associated with self-limited disease. The role for magnetic resonance imaging in managing patients with undifferentiated monoarthritis remains unclear. CONCLUSION: In patients with undifferentiated monoarthritis, the likelihood of a full recovery is 50%. The only significant predictor of outcome was positive HLA-B27 status, which was associated with progression to spondyloarthropathy. Copyright 2003 Elsevier SAS
OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of undifferentiated monoarthritis of more than 3 months' duration and to evaluate the usefulness of classic diagnostic tools for identifying factors associated with outcomes. METHOD: Retrospective study of 46 patients with undifferentiated monoarthritis of more than 3 months' duration. RESULTS: Full resolution was the outcome in 50% of cases. Rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathy were the most common diagnoses in the remaining patients. HLA-B27 status was the only significant predictor of outcome: progression to spondyloarthropathy was significantly more common (P = 0.05) among HLA-B27-positive patients. Mean time to full recovery was significantly shorter than mean time to disease progression (12 vs. 45 months, P = 0.0015). Intraarticular glucocorticoid injections were effective in over 50% of patients. Arthritis relief during the month following the injection was associated with self-limited disease. The role for magnetic resonance imaging in managing patients with undifferentiated monoarthritis remains unclear. CONCLUSION: In patients with undifferentiated monoarthritis, the likelihood of a full recovery is 50%. The only significant predictor of outcome was positive HLA-B27 status, which was associated with progression to spondyloarthropathy. Copyright 2003 Elsevier SAS
Authors: Yasser Emad; Yasser Ragab; Ahmed Shaarawy; Hala Raafat; H A El-Kiki; Johannes J Rasker Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2008-06-18 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: P Machado; I Castrejon; W Katchamart; R Koevoets; B Kuriya; M Schoels; L Silva-Fernández; K Thevissen; W Vercoutere; E Villeneuve; D Aletaha; L Carmona; R Landewé; D van der Heijde; J W J Bijlsma; V Bykerk; H Canhão; A I Catrina; P Durez; C J Edwards; M D Mjaavatten; B F Leeb; B Losada; E M Martín-Mola; P Martinez-Osuna; C Montecucco; U Müller-Ladner; M Østergaard; B Sheane; R M Xavier; J Zochling; C Bombardier Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2010-08-19 Impact factor: 19.103