title: Relative efficacies: antimalarials to abatacept - the choice is ours.
abstract: Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are important in order to halt disease progression and joint destruction, and minimize loss of function. Individually, the disease modifying antirheumatic drugs have demonstrated similar efficacies in radiological and clinical outcomes. However, various combination therapies have been shown to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients who fail to respond adequately to monotherapy. With the introduction of the cytokine inhibitors and the development of newer biologic therapies, a number of treatment options are available for patients with RA. The efficacies of the various treatment strategies are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, 562 Heritage Medical Research Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2S2, Canada. asr@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D018579:Patient Selection; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000962:Antimalarials; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069594:Abatacept