Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease, which may result in severe disabilities and deformities if not diagnosed early and managed with adequate dose of DMARDs. The early diagnosis is often impaired by initial atypical presentations and its close mimic to other autoimmune rheumatic diseases. From the point of diagnosis to treatment of the disease, the practicing rheumatologist confronts various challenges. With an intention to address such challenges and to develop a quick reference guide for all clinicians, author started publishing the question and answer series on rheumatoid arthritis since 2012. The answers provided are substantiated by well-accepted guidelines, literature evidence and clinical experience. These answers can assist decision making in diverse clinical circumstances. Author has made a sincere attempt to make the complied volume more scenario-oriented.

Emphasizes the importance of early intervention in RA with focus on pharmacologic treatments of RA. Detailed information on the various medications employed in treatment, including corticosteroids, NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologic agents, and combination therapy, is reviewed, including evidence-based data on efficacy, safety, side effects, and monitoring requirements. Clinical evaluation is presented, including lab findings, joint scoring, diagnostic criteria, and radiographic outcomes. Surgical options and the management of advanced RA are discussed.

Treating an individual patient in majority of circumstances can be guided by protocols, criteria and available evidence-based information. Whenever adequate or suitable literatures are not available, some of the questions are answered based on experience, as well as after discussion with experts. In some circumstances, the answer may not be completely relevant to the clinical scenario of that region and the practice. The current volume is first of the series and has dealt with investigation and evaluation of patients suspected to have RA.

More than 2 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Whether you've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or care for someone with this disease, 100 Questions & Answers About Arthritis, offers help. Written by a prominent physician, this book provides authoritative, practical answers to 100 of the most common questions asked by arthritis patients, including diagnosis, underlying causes, treatment options, sources of support, and much more.

Diagnosis and Treatment in Rheumatology is a clear and concise handbook of all rheumatic diseases. The book presents organized information about current diagnosis, treatment and statistics (where available) of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, spndyloarthropathies, gout, systemic lupus erythromatosis, osteoarthritis, myositis and much more. This reader friendly format and up to date information is easily accessible for rheumatology residents and medical students, making the book an ideal reference for study and practice.

This issue covers the latest developments in the understanding of rheumatoid arthritis at the early stage. Treatments such as with newer biologic agents and conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are reviewed. Also included are articles on imaging modalities as a means of identifying those in the early stages and monitoring response to treatment.

Companion volume to: Mayo Clinic internal medicine board review. 10th ed. c2013.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide disability benefits: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSDI provides disability benefits to people (under the full retirement age) who are no longer able to work because of a disabling medical condition. SSI provides income assistance for disabled, blind, and aged people who have limited income and resources regardless of their prior participation in the labor force. Both programs share a common disability determination process administered by SSA and state agencies as well as a common definition of disability for adults: "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." Disabled workers might receive either SSDI benefits or SSI payments, or both, depending on their recent work history and current income and assets. Disabled workers might also receive benefits from other public programs such as workers' compensation, which insures against work-related illness or injuries occurring on the job, but those other programs have their own definitions and eligibility criteria. Selected Health Conditions and Likelihood of Improvement with Treatment identifies and defines the professionally accepted, standard measurements of outcomes improvement for medical conditions. This report also identifies specific, long-lasting medical conditions for adults in the categories of mental health disorders, cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. Specifically, these conditions are disabling for a length of time, but typically don't result in permanently disabling limitations; are responsive to treatment; and after a specific length of time of treatment, improve to the point at which the conditions are no longer disabling.

Important strides have been made in understanding the pathophysiologic basis of many inflammatory conditions in recent years, but rheumatology remains a discipline in which diagnosis is rooted in the medical history skillfully extracted from the patient, the careful physical examination, and the discriminating use of laboratory tests and imaging. Moreover, selection of the most appropriate therapy for patients with rheumatic diseases also remains heavily reliant upon clinical experience. Medical disciplines such as rheumatology that depend significantly upon clinical wisdom are prone to the development of systems of ‘Pearls’ and ‘Myths,’ related to the diseases they call their own, a ‘Pearl’ being a nugget of truth about the diagnosis or treatment of a particular disease that has been gained by dint of clinical experience and a ‘Myth’ being a commonly held belief that influences the practice of many clinicians – but is false. This book will pool together the clinical wisdom of seasoned, expert rheumatologists who participate in the care of patients with autoimmune diseases, systemic inflammatory disorders, and all other rheumatic conditions.

A guide to living well with this common—and complex—condition from“one of the most reliable, respected health resources that Americans have” (Publishers Weekly). From the doctors at Mayo Clinic—the top-ranked hospital in the country according to US News & World Report—this book is a complete guide to understanding and living with arthritis. Find the latest expertise on various forms of arthritis, medications and other treatment options, and self-care to successfully manage joint pain and stay active and independent. If you have joint pain, you know it can lead to frustrating limitations in daily life. In fact, this complex group of joint diseases—osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other forms—is the most common cause of disability in the United States. But living with it doesn’t have to mean sitting on the sidelines. This book offers the same expert knowledge that Mayo Clinic doctors, nurses and therapists use in caring for patients. Mayo Clinic Guide to Arthritis: • Breaks down different forms of arthritis and joint pain to help you understand their causes, their signs and symptoms, and what each may mean for your health • Explores the latest in arthritis treatments, including new medications to slow or stop the disease, improved options for joint surgery, joint injections, and evidence-based guidance on pain control and integrative medicine • Provides practical tips for living with arthritis while exercising, traveling, or working • Offers useful advice on diet, mental health, and protecting your joints