Early Diagnoses of Rheumatoid Arthritis is Important. It should be Clinical not Lab Dependent

Abstract

One of the most difficult task in clinical medicine is to evaluate a patient who presents with joint pain. If you were to open the index of a rheumatology text you would find a list of over hundred different types of arthritides (Table I). Fortunately the more commonly seen musculoskeletal conditions can be divided into five different groups. If approached logically a working diagnosis can usually be easily obtained.......