Speculations on Why Early Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Uniquely Effective

Excerpt

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 effective^1,4. 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...