[Palindromic rheumatism or incipient rheumatoid arthritis--chances of drug therapy]

A patient suffering from palindromic rheumatism has recurrent periods of pain and swelling of joints lasting for hours, days or maximally 1 to 2 weeks with an irregular pattern.The diagnosis can be made based on patient history and rheumatoid factor or anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (positive in approx. 50 to 70%) or on the basis of patient history and objectively established joint swelling. Hydroxychloroquine and other ordinary antirheumatic drugs slow down or may even prevent the progression of palindromic rheumatism into chronic rheumatoid arthritis.