Objective: We investigated the effect of the early diagnosis and treatment on the disease activity and joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We enrolled 242 RA patients (male 50 patients, female 192 patients, mean age 49.7⁑13.5 years old) in this study. They were divided into two groups according to lag-time to diagnose RA from the onset of symptoms. 136 RA patients whose lag-time did not exceed 12 months were classified into early diagnosed RA group and 106 RA patients whose lag-time over 12 months were classified into delayed diagnosed RA group. Baseline date were assessed at the time of diagnosis. Disease activity was assessed by sums of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) during first year after diagnosis. Radiological joint damages were evaluated using modified Sharp score. Results: At the time of diagnosis, the age of patients, ESR and platelet counts were significantly decreased, and hemoglobin level was significantly increased in early diagnosed RA group. Early diagnosed RA group showed lower sums of ESR and CRP than delayed diagnosed RA group significantly. Modified sharp score at the time of diagnosis and after treatment were significantly lower in early diagnosed RA group than delayed diagnosed RA group. The difference of modified sharp score between at the time of diagnosis and after treatment were lower in early diagnosed RA group than delayed diagnosed RA group too. Conclusion: The early diagnosis and treatment of RA reduced extent of joint damage and provoked better response to treatment significantly.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Early diagnosis, Early treatment, Prognosis