Combo Treatment Best for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Reported October 31, 2005

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study out of the Netherlands suggests early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is best treated more aggressively with a combination of proven drugs.

Researchers note treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in recent years has migrated from a simple attempt to alleviate symptoms to strategies aimed at preventing long-term damage to the joints and organs. With so many new treatments available, doctors have been unsure which are best for people newly diagnosed with the condition.

In this study, investigators compared four different strategies: standard treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), sequential therapy beginning with a DMARD and adding additional DMARDs and prednisone, a combination therapy consisting of DMARDs and prednisone, and a combination therapy consisting of a DMARD and the drug infliximab.

Results show all the strategies help people with the disease, with 32 percent reaching clinical remission. Those receiving the two combination therapies fared significantly better, with less progression of the disease and greater functional improvements.

Study authors say, "During the first year of follow up, patients with newly diagnosed RA who received initial combination therapy with either prednisone or infliximab had earlier function improvement, with less progression of radiographic joint damage and no more side effects than patients who receive sequential monotherapy or step-up combination therapy."
SOURCE: Arthritis & Rheumatism, 2005;52:3381-3390