Rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly

Rheumatoid arthritis of late onset (LORA) referred as the subset of rheumat oid arthritis: with age of onset over 60 years old, seems to differ from yo ung onset disease (YORA) by a more equal sex distribution, a higher frequen cy of abrupt disease onset, more large joint complaints and less extraartic ular features. Different immunogenetic associations are also reported betwe en the two age groups. The percentages of rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reac tive protein (CRP) positivity differ in various surveys in both groups exam ined. Favorable prognostic factors could be considered the absence of rheum atoid factor activity and the presence of pitting edema of the hands. Greek , patients with LORAS appear not to have differences in comparison to their younger counterparts. Disease modifying drugs and low doses of prednisone are the mainstream of therapy with need for further caution in the aged gro up. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.