Effect of undifferentiated arthritis and preclinical rheumatoid arthritis on the radiographic incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis and patients’ symptoms, data from the OAI

Abstract

Purpose: Undifferentiated Arthritis (UA) and Preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis (Pre-RA) are considered as early-stage inflammatory arthropathy before RA occurrence. However, UA and Pre-RA may persist without ultimate progression to RA, and they may lead to other degenerative joint diseases. To assess the predictive ability of UA and Pre-RA for radiographic and symptomatic incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA).