Combination therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in the era of biologicals. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Early, aggressive disease management is critical for halting disease progression and joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Combination therapy with at least two disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine, or hydroxychloroquine, is often more effective than monotherapy in reducing disease activity. Biologic therapies represent more effective and tolerable treatment options that, when combined with MTX, have been shown to dramatically reduce inflammation, inhibit radiographic progression, and induce remission. Although several types of treatment strategies are used in clinical practice, the most aggressive approaches that target early disease have shown the most promise in reversing disease progression and reducing disease-related costs.

publication date

  • February 1, 2006

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2504107

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 33748852911

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s11420-005-0133-z

PubMed ID

  • 18751844

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 2

issue

  • 1