Radiographic progression on radiographs of hands and feet during the first 3 years of rheumatoid arthritis measured according to Sharp's method (van der Heijde modification).

Abstract

We found that 70% of the patients showed radiographic damage after 3 years and this group could already be selected after 1 year. Overall, +/- 18-20% of the joints were affected after 3 years, with relatively few abnormalities per joint (+/- 8% of the maximum possible score was reached). The rate of progression in the 1st year was significantly more than in the 2nd and 3rd years, indicating a flattening of the curve of radiographic progression.