Diagnosis in Rheumatoid Joint Disease

Abstract

The classic inflammatory rheumatoid joint disease is rheumatoid arthritis. The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis varies between 1% and 5% depending on the criteria adopted. The symptoms of this disease can appear at any age. There is a peak in the fourth and fifth decades, with women affected 3 times more than men. In the course of the disease there is continuous deterioration of the musculoskeletal system. After 16–20 years of disease the functional capacity has decreased on average by 25%, and after 40 years by 50% (Mathies 1983).