title: Tight disease control in early RA.
abstract: The past decade has brought increasing evidence to support aggressive therapeutic intervention in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Treat-to-target strategies that focus on frequent monitoring and treatment adjustments to achieve states of low disease activity or clinical remission have shown superior long-term results. Both oral disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents are effective in treating early RA. It remains unclear if initial combination therapy or biologic use is more effective in early active disease as compared with the traditional approach. The authors review various studies on the treatment of early RA with a focus on studies with a treat-to-target approach.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. dsen@dom.wustl.edu
authors: Deepali
authors: D
authors: Sen
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Brasington
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents