Long-Term Prognosis of Monoarthritis: A Follow-up Study

Abstract

During 1973-75, a total of 446 patients with recent arthritis were examined. The diagnosis in 32 cases was non-classified monoarthritis. After the 3-9 years' follow-up of these 32 patients, two seropositive, definite rheumatoid arthritis cases (6%), and one ankylosing spondylitis case were noted. In the remaining patients the diagnosis was still non-specific arthritis. Of the 31 patients tested, 39% were HLA-B27-positive. The difference between this and the HLA-B27-positivity in the normal Finnish population (14%) is statistically significant (p less than 0.005). At the end of the follow-up the good prognosis of monoarthritis was confirmed: only one erosion developed in one patient's hands or feet.

Clinical courses and predictors of outcomes in patients with monoarthritis: a retrospective study of 171 cases

“…The clinical courses of monoarthritis are diverse and predictors of the outcome of monoarthritis remain unknown. Several studies have suggested that inflammatory monoarthritis remains unclassifiable in 60–90% of cases, with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being finally diagnosed in 6–17% and spondyloarthritis (SpA) in 2–16% of cases of monoarthritis . These wide ranges of data are most likely due to heterogeneity in study design, disease duration and patient selection.…”

The role of arthroscopic synovectomy in patients with undifferentiated chronic monoarthritis of the wrist

“…1,2 There is no agreement about the management of patients with undifferentiated arthritis, and no consensus regarding factors that predict the natural history of the condition. [2][3][4][5][6] Analysis of the clinical outcomes of patients with early undifferentiated arthritis has suggested that the best predictor of poor prognosis is persistent synovitis for more than 12 weeks. [2][3][4][5][6][7] A watch-and-wait policy has commonly been used to avoid unnecessary toxicity from the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 1,2,6 but a disadvantage of this strategy is that it misses an opportunity to improve the outcome once the arthritis advances.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6] Analysis of the clinical outcomes of patients with early undifferentiated arthritis has suggested that the best predictor of poor prognosis is persistent synovitis for more than 12 weeks. [2][3][4][5][6][7] A watch-and-wait policy has commonly been used to avoid unnecessary toxicity from the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 1,2,6 but a disadvantage of this strategy is that it misses an opportunity to improve the outcome once the arthritis advances. When a patient with persistent painful swelling of the wrist does not respond to conservative treatment, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and shows early arthritic changes on radiographs, more effective efforts to prevent the progression of the arthritis should be attempted.…”

Comparison of long term outcome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis presenting with undifferentiated arthritis or with rheumatoid arthritis: an observational cohort study

“…1 These percentages are dependent on the different inclusion criteria, recruitment procedures, and disease criteria. For example, low percentages are found in RF negative patients with monarthritis, 16 and higher percentages are found in inception cohorts where patients with polyarthritis are diagnosed with RA, regardless of fulfilment of the ACR criteria. 17 Despite the fact that many studies have tried to describe the natural history of UA, the long term outcome of the subgroup of patients with UA who develop RA has never been described.…”