Rheumatoid Arthritis with the Onset in Old Age

Abstract

SummaryIn a material of 471 out-patients with rheumatoid arthritis there were 24 cases (2 men and 22 women), in which the onset of the disease had occurred after the age of 60. These cases have been subjected to a detailed analysis.An acute onset was recorded in one third of the cases. The onset from right side joints was much more common than the onset from left side joints. In the great majority of the cases the first affections were localized in finger joints, wrists or knees. The distribution of the joint affections was generally symmetric and several joints or joint groups were involved. The disease was in many cases very active, showing a rapid progress. A very high erythrocyte sedimentation rate was a typical finding in untreated cases as well as a slight hypochromic anemia. The tolerance for gold salts was slightly decreased.