Review article

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Srđan Novak ; Odjel za reumatologiju i kliničku imunologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Tatjana Zekić ; Odjel za reumatologiju i kliničku imunologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Jagoda Ravlić-Gulan ; Katedra za fiziologiju, imunologiju i patofiziologiju, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska

Abstract

The goal of rheumatoid arthritis treatment today is to achieve a remission. In clinical practice, remission means the presence of one or less swollen and one or less tender joint. Methotrexate (MTX) is usually the first disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) of choice and, if it is administered appropriately it can lead to remission in some patients. If remission is not achieved with one or two DMARDs in six months, biologic drugs have to be introduced. Among them, anti-TNFα is usually drug of the first choice. If anti-TNF drug fails, another anti-TNFα drug or biologic drug with different mechanism of action (tocilizumab or rituximab or abatacept) can be given instead. Generally, all biologic drugs are given in combination with MTX or some other DMARD. If monotherapy is needed, tocilizumab is the drug of choice.

Keywords

biologic drugs; metotrexate; rheumatoid arthritis; treatment

Hrčak ID:

95727

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/95727

Publication date:

3.12.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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