Treating very early rheumatoid arthritis

Karim Raza, Caitriona Buckley, Michael Salmon, Christopher Buckley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

94 Citations (Scopus)
19 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common and leads to joint damage due to persistent synovitis. The persistence of inflammation is maintained by hyperplastic stromal tissue, which drives the accumulation of leukocytes in the synovium. Aggressive treatment after the first 3-4 months of symptoms, with either disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapy, reduces the rate of disease progression. However, it rarely switches off disease such that remission can be maintained without the continued need for immunosuppressive therapy. There is increasing evidence that the first few months after symptom onset represent a pathologically distinct phase of disease. This very early phase may translate into a therapeutic window of opportunity during which it may be possible to permanently switch off the disease process. The rationale for, and approaches to, treatment within this very early window are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)849-863
Number of pages15
JournalBest Practice & Research: Clinical Rheumatology
Volume20
Issue number5
Early online date16 Sept 2006
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2006

Keywords

  • DMARD
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • anti-TNF-alpha therapy
  • synovitis
  • early arthritis
  • therapy
  • remission

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