Drug treatment in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Past, present, and future.
Rheumatology made its debut as a legitimate subspecialty of pediatrics sometime in the 1940s in Europe, and in the 1970s in North America. Therapy of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has evolved from salicylates and gold injections to newer, less toxic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and methotrexate. Corticosteroids remain as important drugs when life-threatening complications or blinding iridocyclitis develop. Immune response modifiers and gene therapies offer considerable potential for eventually halting or curing the disease but have yet to make a substantial impact on therapy. Methods for the correct conduct and interpretation of data from clinical trials are discussed.
Giannini
E H
EH
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Ohio, USA.
Cawkwell
G D
GD
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000266:history
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents