title: [Pharmacotherapy of patients with (early) rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: As soon as the diagnosis 'early rheumatoid arthritis (RA)' is made, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) should be prescribed without delay. Methotrexate in dosages up to 30 mg once weekly is being used more frequently than in the past, also in early RA. Combination therapy with DMARDs is indicated in case of insufficient effect of a single DMARD. Combinations with methotrexate appear to be especially effective, like methotrexate and cyclosporin. A novel effective DMARD is leflunomide. In the near future promising biologicals will probably be applied in clinical daily practice, presumably in combination with conventional DMARDs. New non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been developed that are probably safer than conventional NSAIDs. If the recent finding that glucocorticoids are able to inhibit joint damage in (early) RA will be confirmed, prednisone might be used more often in (early) RA. Bone marrow transplantation in RA is still experimental.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Reumatologie en Klinische Immunologie, Utrecht.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Blaauw
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dijkmans
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: van Riel
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate