title: Combination therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: metaanalysis.
abstract: Metaanalysis is a systematic review that applies scientific strategies for limiting bias to the assembly, critical appraisal, and synthesis of all relevant articles on a specific topic. I review the methodologic issues relevant to the assessment of combination therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Only one metaanalysis of combination therapy in RA has been published; this combined results from trials of different agents. For forthcoming metaanalyses of combination therapy involving the same agents, individual studies being designed must be standardized to the fullest extent and agreed upon endpoints, such as the WHO/ILAR/ACR endpoints, must be included. The study should also follow the guidelines for metaanalysis adopted by the Cochrane Collaboration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Arizona Arthritis Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents