The plight and light of treating rheumatoid arthritis in China.

Abstract

Witnessing two rural middle-aged female patients with rheumatoid arthritis in wheelchairs at our rheumatology clinic on the same day, we feel obliged to write this article (figure). Over the past few decades, tremendous progress has been made in the management of rheumatoid arthritis with early intervention, adoption of a treat-to-target strategy, and advances in available therapies. In an era of modern rheumatology, the natural end of rheumatoid arthritis, disability, is no longer commonplace in most countries.