title: Cost effectiveness analysis of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. A systematic review literature.
abstract: The cost effectiveness of treatments that have changed the "natural history" of a chronic progressive disease needs to be evaluated over the long term. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the standard treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and should be started as early as possible. A number of studies have shown that they are effective in improving disease activity and function, and in joint damage. Our review was focused on revision and critical evaluation of the studies including the literature on cost effectiveness of DMARDs (cyclosporine A, sulphasalazine, leflunomide, and methotrexate). The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations showed that traditional DMARDs are cost effective at the time of disease onset. They are less expensive than biological DMARDs and can be useful in controlling disease activity in early RA.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital S. Giovanni di Dio, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, 50143 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benucci
authors.forename: Gianantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saviola
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarzi-Puttini
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atzeni