J Rheumatol
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Observational Study
Flares in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis after Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty: Rates, Characteristics, and Risk Factors.
Rates of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) remain high for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who are at risk of flaring after surgery. We aimed to describe rates, characteristics, and risk factors of RA flare within 6 weeks of THA and TKA. ⋯ Flares are frequent in patients with RA undergoing arthroplasty. Higher baseline disease activity significantly increases the risk. Although more patients stopping biologics flared, this did not independently predict flaring. The effect of early postsurgery flares requires further study.