title: Aggressive drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Recent data indicate that rheumatoid arthritis is more often systemic, progressive, and disabling than benign, and that it reduces life expectancy. The new evidence argues for a dramatic alteration in pharmacologic management. If several months of rest, exercise, and anti-inflammatory therapy are ineffectual, aggressive treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic and immunosuppressive agents may be in order.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ridgway
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006046:Gold; D008727:Methotrexate