Reviews & Analysis

Choosing the correct management strategy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in order to achieve the best possible outcome is a challenge to all rheumatologists. This Viewpoint considers current progress in the field of outcomes research in rheumatoid arthritis, along with future prospects of predicting individual patient response to therapy.

The standards of 'state of the art' in-office imaging are rapidly changing. This Viewpoint assesses the imaging techniques available for in-office use and highlights the obstacles that need to be overcome in this field in order for clinicians to have easy access to the right data in order to provide the best possible care.

There is increasing evidence that treatment in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis can significantly increase the potential for positive patient outcome and prevention of irreversible damage. This Viewpoint considers the evidence that supports aggressive treatment for early rheumatoid arthritis and investigates the available treatment options.

Diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis can be significantly hastened by the screening for serological markers such as autoantibodies. This Viewpoint discusses the merits of this new field of serological screening, focusing on the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide tests and their value as diagnostic tools for rheumatoid arthritis.