Mechanisms of cartilage destruction and the effects of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis

类风湿性关节炎发生在1-3%的人口中。它与关节损伤有关，导致疼痛和行动不便。有几种治疗类风湿性关节炎的方法，但没有一种方法能完全防止这种损害。这项研究着眼于关节组织和损伤发生的方式。它试图理解为什么治疗对一些患者有效，而对另一些患者无效。通过这样做，将确定阻止关节损坏的最佳方法。这项研究还将告诉我们，在关节损伤发生之前，观察治疗是否有效的最佳方法。

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in 1-3% of the population. It is associated with damage to joints causing pain and dificulty with mobility. There are several treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, none of which completely prevents this damage. This study looks at joint tissue and the ways in which damage occurs. It tries to understand why treatment works in some patients and not others. By doing this, the best ways of stopping joint damage will be determined. The study will also tell us the best ways of looking at whether treatment is working before joint damage occurs.