Clinical and Sonographic Pattern of Late-Onset and Early-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Medical Imaging
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Late-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA) presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
• Prognosis for LORA has varied across studies, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of LORA and early-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS).
• Examine associations between these characteristics, inflammation, and treatment outcomes in LORA versus EORA patients.

Main Methods:

• Included 64 LORA and 64 EORA patients meeting ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria.
• Assessed medical history, HAQ-DI, DAS28, lab tests, and MSUS of hands and wrists.

Main Results:

• LORA patients had more comorbidities (28.12% vs 10.9%) and higher ESR.
• Shoulder, MTP, and knee joints were more affected in LORA.
• MSUS showed greater synovitis and erosions in LORA patients, with higher HAQ-DI scores.

Conclusions:

• LORA patients exhibit more active synovitis and erosions than EORA patients, despite similar DAS28 scores.
• LORA is associated with a higher comorbidity burden.
• Regular MSUS evaluation and comorbidity assessment are recommended for LORA patients.