Course of palindromic rheumatism
Although the course is variable, <10% of patients experience a spontaneous complete remission. Some patients continue to have the disease for many years. However, 30% to 50% of cases evolve into a chronic inflammatory arthritis, usually RA. Less commonly, a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other connective tissue disease (CTDs) is eventually made. Antimalarials and methotrexate have been reported to reduce the risk of subsequent development of RA or other CTD.