TY - JOUR T1 - Speculations on Why Early Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Uniquely Effective JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 2090 LP - 2093 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.080671 VL - 35 IS - 11 AU - JOHN T. SHARP Y1 - 2008/11/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/11/2090.abstract N2 - Is it a greater remission rate, or are we preventing onset of rheumatoid arthritis? Dating back to 1909 there have been multiple reports that early treatment of “rheumatoid arthritis” (RA) is uniquely effective1,4. Recent reports suggest that early treatment induces a high remission rate and slows the progression of structural damage during and after the initial treatment phase. In 1999, Finnish investigators reported that 195 patients randomized to 2 treatments, sulfasalazine (SSZ) alone or a combination of SSZ, methotrexate (MTX), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and low-dose prednisolone, had remission rates of 35% and 42%, respectively, when treated within the first 4 months... ER -