Observations on the symptoms and signs of "early" rheumatoid arthritis in a prospective study.

SummaryThe authors have made a detailed study of 202 cases recognized as early RA. All of them were referred to the Institute for thorough examination and were afterwards followed up for two to six years. The observation of the course of the disease revealed four groups: 1. Cases where development of bone erosions proved the diagnosis of RA, 2. Cases in whom all previous symptoms and signs disappeared, 3. Cases in whom diagnosis could not be established after follow-up, 4. Cases in whom other diseases were manifest. The first two groups were analysed retrospectively to find the characteristic features in the early stages of RA.