Tailoring RA Treatment

Genetics of rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility, severity, and treatment response

A decade after the first genome-wide association study in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a plethora of genetic association studies have been published on RA and its clinical…
link.springer.com

Favorable RA outcomes over 4 years with initial COBRA-light regimen

A 4-year follow-up study shows favorable and comparable efficacy and safety outcomes for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis who initiate treatment with the COBRA-light or COBRA regimen.
medwirenews.com

Initial combination therapy of conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) with corticosteroid is effective for prompt induction of disease remission.  However, high-dose steroid is feared for its numerous and severe immunosuppressive and metabolic side-effects.  This study shows that lower/moderate-dose steroid can mitigate such risks, and yet confer similar benefits as the high dose.


Biologics as First-Line Treatment in Early RA Proves Beneficial

This study is among the first to show that aggressive treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis with biologic…
rheumatologynetwork.com

For those who can afford it, and would rather avoid steroid, the targeted therapies like biologics and small molecules can be used to induce RA remission rapidly (for faster symptomatic relief, functional restoration, and damage prevention) and within the “window-of-opportunity” (in the hope of an eventual drug-free remission).


Methotrexate combined and alone comparable for RA if disease activity remains low

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who remain in low disease activity have similar 10-year outcomes…
medwirenews.com

Selection of strategy for high-risk early RA remission induction hinges on safety

MADRID – A regimen of methotrexate plus a tapering prednisone dose may have the best benefit-to-risk profile over 2 years.
mdedge.com

My Approach to Difficult RA

Patients are labeled as having “difficult RA” when: 1) we are frustrated, 2) it’s too late, 3) we’ve run out of options or 4) the relationship is failing. We see…
rheumnow.com