U.C.L.A. Rheumatology Pathophysiology of Disease Course Lecture,
Second Year Medical School 1997

  
 
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Frequently Asked Questions     Page 78
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#8. How important is it to treat Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis and Systemic lupus erythematosus appropriately?

In each of the 3 diseases, there are patients with good prognosis and patients with potentially poor prognosis which have a high chance of developing severe disability or death. Therapies for those with poor prognosis require much more careful monitoring. Hence, in each disease, it is important to recognize the potential in each patient and to tailor the treatment accordingly.

  
 
 
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Figure 9. Survival in SLE. Blue from 1969-1980 treatment with immunosuppressives. Green from 1949-1959 with treatment with corticosteroids. Red from 1949-1953 which is prior to the availability of corticosteroids.
 
 
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