Treating Early RA

EULAR 2016 Recommendations on Early Arthritis

Combe and leading European rheumatologist have published an update to the 2007 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for…
rheumnow.com

2016 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of early arthritis

Objectives Since the 2007 recommendations for the management of early arthritis have been presented, considerable research has been published in the field of…
ard.bmj.com

Early initiation of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is associated with reduced disability scores as much as 2 decades later.
mdedge.com

When it comes to treating destructive chronic diseases like RA, the earlier the better. But better late than never.

Earlier treatment means possibly nipping the disease at the bud to prevent joint damage and systemic complications, and preventing more pathological immune mechanisms being recruited into play, making future disease control more complicated.

I liken this to a house on fire: the earlier you put out the fire, the less damage you’ll get; and a big fire is definitely more difficult (impossible even) to extinguish.

Which is why, in late disease, the realistic goal is no longer complete clinical remission, but merely low disease activity. The accumulative damage in low disease activity will accrue to long-term disability.