[Mortality and functional prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized with inflammation of joints and damage of joints tissue. Therefore it induced the disability and handicap in RA patients. This paper described the mortality and functional prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The numerous number of studies concerning on mortality in RA patients revealed that RA is not benign disease, provided excess rate of mortality compared to normal population. The degree of joints damages was conventionally assessed with radiographic images. So X-P images reflects the course of disease activity and disabilities in RA. The previous assessments with X-P images revealed that the bone erosions and joint space narrowing occurred within two years after onset of RA among approximately 70 % patients. Now it is considered that the joint destruction induced early stage of RA, therefore the promising therapy are needed for the patients who are at risk of poor prognosis. It should be investigated whether the biologic drugs, including TNFalpha inhibitor can alter the mortality and functional prognosis in RA patients.