Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a common rheumatic condition that affects around 1-2% of the population and without adequate therapy results in significant disability. Recent advances in the pathogenesis of the rheumatoid arthritis have led to the dramatic development of powerful new therapeutic agents that target specific disease mechanisms. Increasing use of intensive conventional therapy and the advent of more advanced biologic agents has altered our expectations of thedrug treatment of the disease. Part of the Oxford Rheumatology Library series, this practical pocketbook summarizes the important recent developments that have been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis for the wide audience of clinicians who manage patients with this condition. Chapters include concise but comprehensive overviews of underlying disease mechanisms, clinical diagnosis and assessment, the role of laboratory investigations and imaging, the use ofanti-inflammatory drugs, the role of disease modifying therapy steroids and biologic agents and the role of multidisciplinary care.