JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association
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JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Nov 2018
ReviewEarly Undifferentiated Arthritis: A Developing Country Perspective from Nepal.
Early undifferentiated arthritis is a group of inflammatory joint disease of less than 3 months duration that do not classify under any of the specific rheumatic or connective tissue disorder. Previously, inflammatory arthritis used to be treated only when there was a clear evidence of damage or deformity occurring with it. Use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were considered potentially harmful early in the course of arthritis which could be self-limiting. ⋯ It is now imperative that the risk be assessed early in the course of disease and early DMARDs be instituted for better outcome in these cases. This review analyses the historical evolution of evidence in the management of early undifferentiated arthritis and summarises the treatment approach, monitoring and disease outcomes till date. Keywords: arthritides; Nepal; power doppler; rheumatoid; ultrasonography.