Treatment of early RA

Apollo Medicine 2012 DecemberVolume 9, Number 4; pp. 345e346 Algorithms

Treatment of early RA

Sundeep Upadhyaya*

Senior*Tel.: þReceivhttp://d

ABSTRACT

The treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is now not limited to a few DMARDs (non-biologics) alone; there area variety of biological targets that can be modified with the use of biological agents (Biologic-DMARDs). Anotherespecially significant change is the policy of treating early and "treating to target" based on disease activity scores(CDAI, DAS28 etc.). There is also more use of “triple DMARDs” and corticosteroids. Moreover, the EULAR-ACR 2010RA diagnostic criteria can identify patients with inflammatory arthritis as fulfilling criteria for RA even at 6 weeks ofdisease duration. The ACR- 2012 modification of the 2008 guidelines for management of RA (Biologic & Non BiologicManagement)1 serves as a guide to the management of RA both in the Indian setting and for other developingcountries. This algorithm borrows from this and also refers to the Indian Rheumatology Association consensusstatement for the management of RA.2

REFERENCES

1. Singh JA, Furst DE, Bharat A, et al. 2010 update of the2008 American College of Rheumatology recommenda-tions for the use of disease-modifying antirheumaticdrugs and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid

Consultant, Rheumatology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Sarita Vih91 9818359408, email: sundeepupadhyaya@hotmail.com

ed: 27.9.2012; Accepted: 29.9.2012; Available online 13.10.2012x.doi.org/10.1016/j.apme.2012.09.005

arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 May;64(5):625e639.

2. Misra R, Sharma BL, Gupta R et al. Indian Rheuma-tology Association consensus statement on the manage-ment of adults with rheumatoid arthritis. Indian JRheumatol 2008;39:S1eS6.

ar, New Delhi 110076, India.

346 Apollo Medicine 2012 December; Vol. 9, No. 4 Upadhyaya