Rheumatoid arthritis; aprospective study of eighty cases

ABSTRACT

To see the pattern of rheumatoid disease,in local population. SETTING: Department of Medicine Medical Unit-II, Allied Hospital PMC, Faisalabad. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of eighty patients of different age and sex groups suffering from rheumatoid arthritis according to American rheumatism association criteria were included in the study. A detailed history and physical examination was made to see the pattern of joint involvement and extra articular rheumatoid disease. The disease was clearly predominant in females [73.3%], with peak incidence of onset in fourth decade. Patients presented typically with pain, swelling and stiffness of joints [71%]. The most common joint deformity was ulnar deviation of hands [13.7%]. Extra articular disease was less common [15%]. ESR was raised above normal in almost all the cases. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 80% of the cases. Extra articular rheumatoid disease is less common in local population. Rheumatoid factor is of great help in diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis as compared to other laboratory investigations available for diagnosing inflammatory joint disease. Aspirin should be the drug of first choice in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Side effects with Aspirin were not serious and were tolerable. In our country corticosteroids are being given un-necessarily by most of practicing physicians and quacks. Patients are put on steroids indefinitely without follow-up. This should be discouraged as most of the patients do well with first line therapy and go into remission. Only few cases need second line drugs like gold; penicillamine and corticosteroids