Localized rheumatologic diseases

Preview

Dr Waxman's article is a helpful reminder that “rheumatism” may present as—and sometimes remain—a localized disease. In what proportion of patients with so-called palindromic rheumatism will classic rheumatoid arthritis ultimately develop? Which kind of arthritis characteristically affects the base of the thumb? For which kind of localized arthritis is prompt diagnosis most essential? The answers to these and many other important questions will be found in the following discussion.