omparative stuQy_between the validity of different articular indices in measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown etiology. Although there are a variety of systemic manifestations, the characteristic feature of RA is persistent inflammatory synovitis usually involving peripheral joints in a symmetrical distribution. RA is a common chronic disease that affects about 1% of the general population world wide.

Our target of consideration in this study IS to measure & compare the validity of three different articular indices to measuring disease activity in RA. (the 70 joints index, the 36 joints index and the 28 joints index).

Eighty patients with RA were diagnosed according to the proposed 1987 revised American Rheumatism Association Criteria for R.A (Arnett et a!., 1988). And each patient was subjected to the following.

(A) Thorough history taking. (B) Thorough clinical examination. (C) Laboratory investigation including CBC, ESR, R.F & CRP.

The scoring of each articular index was also applied to each patient.