Radiographic damage in large joints in early rheumatoid arthritis: relationship with radiographic damage in hands and feet, disease activity, and physical disability

An assessment of the onset of radiographic damage in the large joints (hip,knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles and tarsus) in patients with earlyrheumatoid arthritis, and the relationship of the progression of largejoint damage with joint damage in hands and feet, with physical disability,and with cumulative disease activity, was performed in a prospective 6 yrfollow-up study. Large joint damage appeared to be an early phenomenon with20% of the patients having some damage in at least one large joint within 1yr, and 50% of the patients within 6 yr after disease onset. Radiographicdamage in large joints was significantly related to the damage in hands andfeet, the physical disability index, and the cumulative disease activity.The initial disease activity at study entry was the only prognostic factorthat reached significance.