detection and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis

Detection and prevention.

Early diagnosis of disease is key in slowing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnosis of disease is purely on clinical grounds. The only screening test or rheumatoid arthritis is detection of rheumatoid factor in blood. But it is non specific and can also be present in normal patients especially in older patients.

High risk patients especially with strong family history should be screened for RF and should be warned of smoking , becoming obese and taking balanced diet.

As we don’t know the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis so unfortunately it cannot be prevented . efforts should be directed at early diagnosis of disease and then early start of aggressive treatment by disease modifying drugs .

Conclusion.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a destructive disease with no known cause and no cure and great variability in its expression and prevalence . Drugs are given to slow the progression of disease . Risk factors include positive family history , heavy smoking with long duration and ethnicity.

Recommendations.

Efforts should be directed at improving the quality of life of patients .
Decrease the waiting time for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
More rheumatologist should be trained and recruited in developing countries. (In Kenya of 16 million population there is only one rheumatologist)
Drugs at cheaper rates should be supplied to developing countries.
Educate the people about early symptoms of disease and instructions regarding smoking cessation, weight reduction, exercise and balanced diet.

Future Research questions.

To know the exact cause of disease.
To know the exact relationship between diet and rheumatoid arthritis.
More studies need to be done in developing countries to know the exact incidence and prevalence .

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