What Recent Studies Reveal
- By Ara Dikranian, MD
Delving into the literature, this author discusses the current thinking on key markers of early disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), reviews the impact of anti-TNF medications in early RA and assesses the potential of emerging biologic agents.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects more than two million adults in the United States.1 In the past decade, the advent of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors for the treatment of RA has ushered in a new era of targeted biologic modalities. We have seen a shift to more aggressive therapy involving earlier treatment and the use of multiple medications in combination. Although the long-term effects of new treatment approaches are not yet fully known, early results appear favorable.
A substantial proportion of patients with inflammatory arthritis of short duration have remission and only some patients with persistent disease will go on to develop RA.2 Therefore, it is important to determine genetic, clinical, serological or radiographic markers that allow clinicians to identify patients with early disease destined for RA so they can provide appropriately targeted therapy.
http://www.arthritispractitioner.com/article/8275
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com