In a nutshell This study explored the use of abatacept (ABT, Orencia) with either methotrexate (MTX, Trexall) or tacrolimus (TAC) in rheumatoid arthritis patients who had not responded well to previous drugs. The study concluded that ABT and TAC together showed the best response and could be used together to treat rheumatoid arthritis after other drugs...
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In a nutshell This study explored the relationship between vitamin D levels and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study concluded that RA patients frequently had lower vitamin D levels than healthy patients. Some background RA is a chronic autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks healthy tissue) that is thought to be caused by both...
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In a nutshell This study explored the use of specific hand exercises to improve hand function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The results showed that a tailored hand exercise program improved hand strength and flexibility. Some background RA is a chronic autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks healthy tissue) that causes...
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In a nutshell This study explored the frequency of remaining pain in those with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after three months of treatment with methotrexate (Trexall). The results showed that remaining pain was common after treatment. Some background RA is a chronic autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks healthy tissue) that...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether adding infliximab (Remicade) to a combination of treatments improved long-term outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study concluded that a combination of treatments resulted in disease remission and prevented the disease from getting worse. Adding infliximab did not improve remission...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined the risk of cervical cancer in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitors. The study concluded that women with RA treated with TNF-inhibitors are at increased risk of cervical cancer. Some background RA is a chronic autoimmune disease (when the immune system...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study assessed the effects on cholesterol of tocilizumab (TCZ, Actemra) and adalimumab (Humira) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The results showed that cholesterol levels increased more with TCZ. Other risk factors for heart disease decreased more with TCZ. Some background RA is a chronic autoimmune disease (when the...
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In a nutshell This study explored the influence of other diseases on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The study concluded that cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) diseases were strongly related to disease activity. Some background RA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. RA disease activity is measured...
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In a nutshell This study assessed whether golimumab was effective for treating active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate therapy. The study concluded that 78% of patients achieve good response to long-term golimumab treatment. Some background Methotrexate is often the first drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, in many cases...
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In a nutshell This study assessed joint symptoms and quality of life two years after total knee replacement surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study concluded that rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing knee replacement surgery experience good outcomes. Some background Total knee replacement surgery is a common treatment for...
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In a nutshell In this study, the authors discussed several evidence-based treatment guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These guidelines were meant to serve as a tool for clinicians to decide treatment options for patients. Some background In RA, the immune system begins attacking healthy tissues the way it normally attacks...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to analyze the safety and effectiveness of increasing doses of methotrexate (Trexall) in combination with adalimumab (Humira) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The authors found out that increased doses of methotrexate resulted in improved outcome in RA. Some background In RA, the immune system begins...
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