Disease modifiers: making the right therapeutic choices for our patients.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who suffer an inadequate response to disease modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic therapies represent a large segment of the RA population, so treating these patients is a major issue for physicians. The 4 case studies discussed in this article were presented at an American College of Rheumatology 2006 Annual Meeting Satellite Symposium and highlight some of the key issues for patients who are not responding adequately to current therapies. These issues include which therapy to consider next for maintaining tight control and maximizing outcomes in patients, and what is the rightful place of newly approved therapies within the current RA treatment armamentarium. Included here are the Audience Response System (ARS) results from the symposium, which will allow readers to compare their answers with that of the audience; this may help physicians in the decision-making process for their patients.
Moreland
Larry W
LW
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA. larry.moreland@ccc.uab.edu
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged