目前仍无应用于防止 RA 的初级预防措施。虽然在发病前数年,患者就会出现血清标志物(类风湿因子、抗环瓜氨酸肽 [抗-CCP] 抗体),[12]Rakieh C, Nam JL, Hunt L, et al. Predicting the development of clinical arthritis in anti-CCP positive individuals with non-specific musculoskeletal symptoms: a prospective observational cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74:1659-1666.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24728331?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Nam JL, Hunt L, Hensor EM, et al. Enriching case selection for imminent RA: the use of anti-CCP antibodies in individuals with new non-specific musculoskeletal symptoms - a cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75:1452-1456.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26395501?tool=bestpractice.com 但大多数携带这些标志物的患者并不会患上该病,因此此时进行预防治疗并无意义。