The role of early diagnosis in autoimmune arthritis: Why it matters

Autoimmune arthritis are arthritis where there is body immune system which starts giving the cartilage or the synovial cell or there is synovial hypertrophy leading to joint destruction. So these disorders should be diagnosed as soon as possible to prevent any cartilage damage. Once cartilage is damaged, it leaves permanent mark on the cartilage.

So synovitis or any sort of inflammatory arthritis, sooner we diagnose it, the possibility of getting complete revision is possible. So it can happen in disorders, as an example, the names are like rheumatoid arthritis, cartilaginous spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, so some diseases which has other organ involved as well, but they also may lead to joint destruction activities. These are very important to get it diagnosed earlier.

The sooner we diagnose, we can control the disease and the permanent joint damage can be prevented. So like if rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed early phase and the patient continue to take medicine to suppress the immunity, there is a possibility that he may or she may not need joint replacement surgery ever. But unfortunately in India, most of the patients are diagnosed at a very later age, at the end stage of the disease and leading to joint replacement.

Many a time we diagnose the patient during joint replacement only. So that's how we have to think. We can prevent arthritis in patients with autoimmune disorder. It is always better to diagnose it early because this can be managed with medicines only.

Article Courtesy: (Dr. Debashish Chanda - Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Specialist, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram)