Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition. Clinically,
various risk factors can affect the prognosis of the disease. The patients may
have varying lengths of disease course, some may remit after active treatment,
others may relapse again and again and deteriorate gradually.
The factors affecting the prognosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis generally include
the follows:
· HLA DR4 and DR1 are associated.
· Other environmental factors apart from smoking are infections from various
viruses (eg, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus) and bacteria (eg, Porphyromonas
gingivalis, mycoplasma)
· Additionally, endocrinologic and reproductive factors may also contribute
to the development of RA
· The etiology and pathophysiology of RA remain fields of active research
that will either strengthen current theories or dispute them in the future.
· Flares that are intense and last a long time
· Diagnosed very young and have had active disease for years
Other major prognosis and outcomes include features of other systems like
inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), heart disease, infections etc. RA is
known to reduce the lifespan of patients by anywhere from three to 12 years. To
keep the disease under control and prevent flare ups regular reviews and
checkups are important to improve prognosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
