Pincus T, Callahan L F
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232.
Br J Rheumatol. 1993 Mar;32 Suppl 1:28-37.
Most patients with RA experience disease progression over periods longer than 5 years, characterized by radiographic joint destruction, declines in functional capacity to perform activities of daily living, frequent work disability, high levels of co-morbidities, and death earlier than expected. These long-term consequences of RA may be viewed as 'side effects' of disease, which must be balanced against possible side effects of drugs in planning treatments of patients with RA. Aggressive approaches, which may include acceptance of mild and even moderate side effects of drugs, may be appropriate in efforts to prevent 'side effects' of RA.
大多数类风湿关节炎（RA）患者在超过5年的时间里会经历疾病进展，其特征为影像学上的关节破坏、日常生活活动功能能力下降、频繁的工作残疾、高共病率以及比预期更早的死亡。RA的这些长期后果可被视为疾病的“副作用”，在规划RA患者的治疗时，必须将其与药物可能的副作用进行权衡。积极的治疗方法，可能包括接受药物的轻度甚至中度副作用，在努力预防RA的“副作用”方面可能是合适的。
