Treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. Issue 4 (July 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raza, Karim; Salmon, Mike; Buckley, Christopher D
• Is Part Of: Therapy. Volume 2:Issue 4(2005)
• Page Start: 659
• Page End: 668
• Publication Date: 2005-07
• Subjects: anti-TNF therapy -- DMARD -- early arthritis -- rheumatoid arthritis -- synovitis -- therapy; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.2217/14750708.2.4.659
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-0708

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is common and leads to joint damage due to persistent synovitis. Aggressive treatment within the first few years after symptom onset, with either disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or antitumor necrosis factor therapy, reduces the rate of disease progression. There is increasing interest in the concept that the first few months after symptom onset represent a pathologically distinct phase of disease and that this translates into a therap eutic window of opportunity during which it may be possible to switch off the disease process. The rationale for, and difficulties associated with, treatment within this window are discussed.