Evidence of significant radiographic damage in rheumatoid arthritis within the first 2 years of disease.

Quantitative radiographic scores for joint space narrowing erosion, and malalignment in the hands and wrists of 200 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were significantly correlated with duration of disease. Nonetheless, most of the 42 patients who reported disease for less than 2 years had evidence of radiographic damage, including 35 with joint space narrowing, 28 with erosions but only one with malalignment. Significant radiographic damage in the absence of malalignment may be seen in many patients within the first 2 years after presentation of RA.