In a nutshell This study assessed the risk of serious infection during treatment with tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Some background Over the past decade, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have become increasingly popular treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. TNF inhibitors, also known as...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This review explored the risk of infection in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologics. Some background Biologics are a popular treatment choice for rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in patients who have not responded to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate (Trexall)....
Read More
In a nutshell This study examined the safety and efficacy of sirukumab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Inflammation is a major factor in rheumatoid arthritis, leading to joint pain and swelling. Interleukin-6 is a protein involved with inflammation, and is elevated in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Therefore,...
Read More
In a nutshell This review discusses the importance of pregnancy planning and disease management during pregnancy in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Though rheumatoid arthritis can affect both genders, it is more often diagnosed in women, particularly those in their 30s and 40s. Because many treatments for...
Read More
In a nutshell This study examined the use of rituximab in clinical practice for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis in an autoimmune disorder, meaning the immune system, which normally fights off invaders such as bacteria, begins to attack healthy body tissue. A mainstay of treatment...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This review examines the use of new biologic drug treatments in rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system (the body’s defense against disease) begins attacking healthy tissue. This is a chronic (long-term and recurring) disease, therefore the main...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This review evaluated the different therapeutic options in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after the failure of initial methotrexate therapy. Some background Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are a group of medications commonly used in patients with RA. DMARDs suppress the immune response against self and...
Read More
In a nutshell This clinical trial compared between different approaches for early rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Some background It is recommended for patients who were recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to start medical treatment as early as possible in order to reduce disease progression and long-term disability. But what is the...
Read More
In a nutshell This review discusses the choice of second-line treatment when patients fail to respond to a first tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitor in rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Common treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as tumor necrosis factor...
Read More
In a nutshell This study reported the 2-year outcomes of a previous trial of conventional (addition of sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine) versus biological (addition of infliximab) treatment in patients who failed initial methotrexate treatment. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that typically...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study evaluated the long-term safety of rituximab (Rituxan) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with an increased risk of serious infections, heart attacks and the development of certain cancers. It has been further suggested that the immune-modifying...
Read More
In a nutshell This article presents the latest (2013) recommendations of the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) for management of rheumatoid arthritis. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and often results in joint damage and physical...
Read More
