[Follow-up study in chronic polyarthritis as represented in roentgen image]

Thirty-one patients with chronic polyarthritis under medical treatment had x-rays of their hands performed at the beginning of the illness and after seven years, on average. The findings were compared with clinical and biochemical data. Despite treatment, there was marked progression in the periarticular destructive changes, although the clinical features had improved. The extent of periarticular destruction was significantly greater amongst seropositive than amongst seronegative patients, both at the beginning and the end of the study, but there was no significant difference in the rate at which this progressed. It was not possible to demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between the radiological appearance of the joints and the clinical and laboratory findings.