LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS HAS IMPROVED

X-rays of 20 finger joints, 10 foot joints and 2 wrists of 50 female p atients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis of 10-15 years' duratio n from 1962, 1972, 1982 and 1992 were evaluated blindly for erosions. A highly significant decline was observed in erosions in finger joints . Erosions had also declined in wrists and in foot joints, though less than in fingers. This may indicate improvement in the long-term outco me of rheumatoid arthritis.