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Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Through HR-pQCT Imaging Analysis
Published on: October 6, 2023
Weight Bearing Joints Destruction In Rheumatoid Arthritis
Takashi Imagama1, Atsunori Tokushige, Kazushige Seki
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University 1-1-1, Minamikogushi, Ube, 755-8505,. Japan.
Abstract:
In many cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints of the upper extremities are affected. However, involvement of weight bearing joints of the lower extremities is strongly associated with a decreased activities of daily living ability such as gait disorder. Once the progression of weight bearing joint destruction occurs, lower extremity function will decrease even if RA disease activity is improved by pharmacotherapy. In this article, we investigated joint destruction suppressing effects of pharmacotherapy on the hip and knee joints, as well as risk factors for joint destruction. We also discuss surgical treatment strategies and clinical outcomes for progressive joint destruction.
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