Prevalence of arthroplasty during the course of rheumatoid arthritis

The development of potent medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has made effective palliation of pain and reduction of disease activity possible for many patients. In addition, the overall severity of the disease seems to be decreasing,

possibly because of modern multidisciplinary therapy. Nevertheless, a report by F Wolfe and S H Zwillich

provides a timely reminder that RA is still a devastating disease and that progressive destruction continues despite aggressive treatment by experienced rheumatologists.