Hanyang Med Rev.  2005 May;25(2):73-79.

Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Artritis

• Suh CH

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive disease, affecting an estimated 1% of the population worldwide. Although the optimal care of RA patients requires various modalities, pharmacotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for RA. Clinical studies in patients with RA have broadened understanding of its pathogenesis and have fundamentally changed the therapeutic approach to this disease in the last 10 years. It has become clear that early suppression of RA disease activity is important in preventing progressive joint destruction and functional decline. There has been a complete remodeling of the traditional "therapeutic pyramid" by rheumatologists, who now treat RA earlier and more aggressively than ever before, using combinations of classic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or new drugs. Although a cure remains elusive, remission is an approachable goal.

Keyword

rheumatoid arthritis; treatment; diseasemodifying; antirheumatic drug; combination

MeSH Terms

Antirheumatic Agents*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Drug Therapy
Humans
Joints
Antirheumatic Agents