Tapering and sometimes discontinuation of DMARDS is possible in people with rheumatoid arthritis who achieve sustained remission, hinting at the possibility that the disease could be cured. INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain and disability. It can also affect internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in older people, but […]
Category: Biologic drugs
In RA, etanercept can usually not be stopped, but in some patients who are doing well the dose may be reduced
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who have stable and improved symptoms should continue long-term maintenance treatment on full- or low-dose etanercept. INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints and sometimes their internal organs, causing pain and disability. Etanercept is one of a group of medicines called biologics that are used to […]
New drug atacicept may help to prevent SLE flares
High-dose atacicept prevented disease flares, although there were some safety concerns. INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus (also known as SLE or lupus) is an autoimmune disease. It typically starts in women between the ages of 15 and 45, but can affect both genders. The cause of SLE is not known, and symptoms can vary from patient […]
Blisibimod may offer hope for SLE
Blisibimod will go on to the next stage of clinical development for use in people with SLE. INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. It typically affects women between the ages of 15 and 45. The cause of SLE is not known, and symptoms can vary from patient to patient, but it often […]
Adalimumab has no impact on pain in osteoarthritis
Adalimumab was not superior to placebo for relieving pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the hands. INTRODUCTION Osteoarthritis is a condition that makes a person’s joints stiff and painful, particularly in the morning. It is caused by thinning of the cartilage within the joints, which allows the bones to rub against each other. It is […]
Short-term biologic treatment does not affect immune response to vaccination
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be up to date with routine vaccinations before beginning treatment with biologic medicines. INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, causing pain and disability. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis naturally have an increased risk of developing infections due to the underlying disease, as well as […]
Newly updated advice on using DMARDs for RA
INTRODUCTION Shared decision-making between patients and doctors is a central focus of newly updated recommendations on treating rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The updated recommendations, produced by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), also take into account recent research on the benefits and safety of these widely used drugs. WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY? When […]
Rheumatoid arthritis: cheaper biological treatments on the horizon?
INTRODUCTION In recent years the so-called ‘biological’ treatments have marked a major step forward in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Now a new study has looked at a similar treatment that may be cheaper and, therefore, available to more people. WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY? Research into rheumatoid arthritis has moved very quickly in the last 10 […]
Do better treatments mean fewer appointments for rheumatoid arthritis?
INTRODUCTION Twenty-first-century treatments may be behind a drop in hospital and doctor visits for people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study in Sweden. WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY? In the first part of this century, a number of medicines have made a big difference to people living with the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as pain, […]
