Clinical and Radiographic Observation of Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiographic changes, including Lunsbury Index, rate of complete remission, and radiographic pattern of wrist and other joints, in patients with elderly (over 65-year-old) -onset rheumatoid arthritis, and to compare the changes with those in younger-onset patients. It was revealed that there were no significant differences in the clinical and radiographic courses between the two groups. The results therefore suggest that the modifications observed in elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis are caused by the pathophysiology of aging.