OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to describe the general characteristics of a cohort of patients with early arthritis in Argentina. METHODS: CONAART (Consorcio Argentino de Artritis Temprana--Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis) is an initiative of seven rheumatology centres across Argentina. Patients were included if they had at least one or more swollen joints and <2 years of disease duration. Social, demographic, familiar, hereditary, clinical and laboratory data were recollected. At first visit and every year, X-rays of hands and feet were performed and working characteristics and pharmaco-economic data were re-collected. RESULTS: A total of 413 patients were included. Of them, 327 (79.2%) were women with a median age of 49 years and a median disease duration of 6 months. Of the total, 183 (44.3%) had RA (ACR 1987) and 167 (40.4%) undifferentiated arthritis (UA). Other diagnoses included: 12 crystalics, 11 PsA, 6 uSpA, 6 other CTD, 1 AS and 27 other diagnosis. As 85% of our population had RA and UA, we only compared these two groups of patients. Patients with RA had significantly worse activity parameters of the disease (DAS of 28 joints), functional capacity (HAQ) and quality of life (Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life) than patients with UA. The frequency of RF and anti-CCP, and symmetrical distribution were also significantly higher in patients with RA compared with UA patients. All patients with RA initiated early specific treatment, in a period no longer than 6 months from the beginning of the disease. CONCLUSION: Early arthritis clinics are a useful tool to identify and treat patients with different forms of joint involvement.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to describe the general characteristics of a cohort of patients with early arthritis in Argentina. METHODS: CONAART (Consorcio Argentino de Artritis Temprana--Argentine Consortium for Early Arthritis) is an initiative of seven rheumatology centres across Argentina. Patients were included if they had at least one or more swollen joints and <2 years of disease duration. Social, demographic, familiar, hereditary, clinical and laboratory data were recollected. At first visit and every year, X-rays of hands and feet were performed and working characteristics and pharmaco-economic data were re-collected. RESULTS: A total of 413 patients were included. Of them, 327 (79.2%) were women with a median age of 49 years and a median disease duration of 6 months. Of the total, 183 (44.3%) had RA (ACR 1987) and 167 (40.4%) undifferentiated arthritis (UA). Other diagnoses included: 12 crystalics, 11 PsA, 6 uSpA, 6 other CTD, 1 AS and 27 other diagnosis. As 85% of our population had RA and UA, we only compared these two groups of patients. Patients with RA had significantly worse activity parameters of the disease (DAS of 28 joints), functional capacity (HAQ) and quality of life (Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life) than patients with UA. The frequency of RF and anti-CCP, and symmetrical distribution were also significantly higher in patients with RA compared with UApatients. All patients with RA initiated early specific treatment, in a period no longer than 6 months from the beginning of the disease. CONCLUSION: Early arthritis clinics are a useful tool to identify and treat patients with different forms of joint involvement.
Authors: Gustavo Citera; Hernan Maldonado Ficco; Rodolfo S Pérez Alamino; Fernando Dal Pra; Veronica Lencina; Luciana Casalla; Mariana Benegas; Oscar Rillo; Alberto Berman; Ana Lucia Barbaglia; Veronica Bellomío; Maria Haye Salinas; Ana C Alvarez; Francisco Caeiro; Josefina Marcos; Adrian Salas; Antonio Catalán Pellet; Lorena Techera; Anastasia Secco; Sergio Paira; Federico Ceccato; Zaida Bedrán; Enrique R Soriano; Josefina Marin; Gabriela Salvatierra; Maria Elena Crespo Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2014-11-27 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: María Jezabel Haye Salinas; Soledad Retamozo; Ana Cecilia Alvarez; Hernán Maldonado Ficco; Fernando Dal Pra; Gustavo Citera; Mariana Benegas; Rafael Chaparro del Moral; Oscar Rillo; Anastasia Secco; Lucila Marino Claverie; Antonio Catalan Pellet; Josefina Marcos; Mercedes Argentina García; Juan Carlos Marcos; Ana Barbaglia; Verónica Bellomio; Alberto Berman; Cristian Quiroz; Enrique R Soriano; Federico Ceccato; Sergio Paira; Doralia Vazquez; Vicente Ricardo Juarez; Edson Javier Velozo; Gabriela Salvatierra; Francisco Caeiro Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2014-12-16 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Ellen Sauar Norli; Gina Hetland Brinkmann; Tore Kristian Kvien; Olav Bjørneboe; Anne Julsrud Haugen; Halvor Nygaard; Cathrine Thunem; Elisabeth Lie; Maria Dahl Mjaavatten Journal: RMD Open Date: 2017-12-22