Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use in the elderly rheumatoid arthritis patient.
During the 10-year period since the last review was done by Gardner and Furst, studies have furthered the knowledge of the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the elderly rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. This article briefly reviews the clinical pharmacology of humans as they age, and details the effects of aging on the specific pharmacokinetics and responses to commonly used DMARDs. There has been some progress in understanding the elderly RA patient; however, data are insufficient to provide much confidence in DMARDs effects in the elderly.
Ranganath
Veena K
VK
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, 1000 Veteran Avenue, Room 32-59, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1670, USA.
Furst
Daniel E
DE
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000962:Antimalarials; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate