RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Unresolved Issues in Identifying and Overcoming Inadequate Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Weighing the Evidence
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 4
OP 30
VO 81
A1 STANLEY B. COHEN
A1 MARC D. COHEN
A1 JOHN J. CUSH
A1 ROY M. FLEISCHMANN
A1 PHILIP J. MEASE
A1 MICHAEL H. SCHIFF
A1 LEE S. SIMON
A1 ARTHUR L. WEAVER
YR 2008
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/81/4.abstract
AB Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disorder of the joints that affects about 1% of the world population. The ultimate goals of therapy include remission of disease and prevention of joint damage. Reaching these goals has become a realistic outcome for an increasing number of patients as treatment options have expanded over the past 3 decades. In addition to older therapies, such as methotrexate (MTX), other disease modifying drugs (DMARD), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, newer biologic treatments have become available. For the substantial number of patients who experience an inadequate response to standard medications, biologic response modifiers (BRM) provide an important therapeutic alternative. The availability of multiple treatment options in the absence of clear definitions or criteria for remission and inadequate response, however, makes clinical decisions about measuring outcomes, predicting response to treatment, and prescribing pharmacologic therapies challenging. In this program, distinguished rheumatologists weigh the evolving body of clinical evidence to draw sound conclusions and resolve key issues in managing inadequate response to treatment and in achieving optimal outcomes in RA.