University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
SIR, Bukhari et al. [1] confirm the symmetricality of lesions in the small joints of the hands and feet of subjects who have inflammatory polyarthritis, regardless of positivity of rheumatoid factor. Our study of inflammatory erosive osteoarthritis confirmed similar symmetricality [2], but particularly so in the 15% who later went on to superimpose rheumatoid arthritis on their osteoarthritis [3]. Rheumatoid factor positivity clearly is not the deciding factor, although it accompanies increased numbers of erosions [4]. It is comforting to find confirmation of our report 30 yr later.
Notes
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