HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Marra, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Marra, C.

CARLO MARRA, PHARM.D., PH.D., FCHSP, is a Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Address correspondence to Dr. Marra, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, 717, 828 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L8 (cmarra{at}interchange.ubc.ca).

Purpose. The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its pathophysiology and immune mechanisms, and its clinical manifestations are reviewed. The signs, symptoms, and radiographic and biochemical changes noted in mild, moderate, and severe disease are discussed and the systemic nature of RA and its adverse impact on survival are addressed. Traditional and newer scoring instruments to measure disease severity, progression, disability, and response to therapy are reviewed and introduced, respectively. The impact of RA on disability and quality of life (QOL) is also explored. Summary. RA, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that involves the synovial membrane and extraarticular sites, affects approximately 1–2% of the population, with women 2–3 times as likely to be affected as men. If RA is not treated aggressively, its clinical course is characterized by progressive physical disability and reduced QOL. Conclusion. Increased knowledge of the cellular and immune mechanisms involved in RA has identified new drug targets. Index terms: Arthritis; Epidemiology; Methodology; Quality of life