Study: Early treatment of RA is beneficial

A new study into the development of undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (UA) states that it may be possible to predict if this will develop into rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Research looked at patients in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, studying them over a year to see if it could be predicted whether their UA would develop into RA.

The scientists looked at a number of factors, including age, gender, the level of morning stiffness, levels of C-reactive protein, levels of anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor, to see which was most effective in predicting the onset of RA.

During the research it was found early identification and treatment of RA was beneficial to patients, however, it was difficult to ascertain whether patients presenting UA symptoms had the persistent disease.

The study determined that due to this and the fact many patients will not meet the full criteria from the American College of Rheumatology, to determine progression to RA, it is difficult to know who to treat aggressively.

Research published in Arthritis Research and Therapy has added weight to the belief that there is a connection between vascular diseases and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

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