Diagnosis and classification of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease of unclear etiology that is manifested in by a progressive and destructive polyarthritis in association with serological evidence of autoreactivity. It diagnosis is based on the classification criteria that involves four parameters: joint involvement, serology (rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide -anti-CCP), levels of acute phase reactants and the duration of the symptoms Aletaha, et al. [1]. This classification simplify the categorization of the patients on with early RA, however, the diagnosis requires highly trained specialist who are able to differentiate early symptoms of RA from other pathology. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.