rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis drug variability suggests alternative dosing

harminka — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:47:45 -0600

Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is suggested as the "anchor" drug in treating the disease. Despite its widespread use, the understanding of its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics is limited.

Medicaid policies vary widely for rheumatoid arthritis drugs

harminka — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:37:58 -0600

Patients with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis now have many more treatment options than in the past, including biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

New guidelines for treating rheumatoid arthritis

harminka — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:09:17 -0500

Proven combinations of medicines and the introduction of new anti-arthritis drugs have significantly improved the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to guidelines issued by the American College of Rheumatology and co-authored by physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Novel DNA microarray chip predicts functional impairment in rheumatoid arthritis

harminka — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:10:20 -0500

A new DNA microarray chip can predict severe disability and remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as presented today at EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris, France.

New insight into RA patient priorities, motivators for clinical trial involvement

harminka — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:07:52 -0500

Two new initiatives designed to improve the management of rheumatoid arthritis through patient participation were presented today at EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris, France.

Higher prevalence of periodontal disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients

harminka — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:23:50 -0500

Over 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints. RA is a disabling condition, and can lead to long-term joint damage resulting in persistent pain and loss of function in affected areas.

Recommendations for Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

harminka — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:11:31 -0500

To manage the painful and incapacitating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, inflammatory joint disease, the majority of patients rely on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). In addition to trusted nonbiologic DMARDs, a number of biologic agents now promise to improve treatment for RA.

Decline in Work Disability Due to Rheumatoid Arthritis

harminka — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:41:36 -0500

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints and, in severe cases, vital organs. Marked by pain, fatigue, and loss of dexterity and mobility, RA has been strongly associated with work disability in the US. In previous studies of patients with advanced RA, 10 years in duration, the prevalence of work disability has been estimated at as high as 50 percent.

Cost-effectiveness of rheumatoid arthritis treatments for Medicare recipients

harminka — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:37:50 -0500

For elderly and disabled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers, the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) brought the promise of better disease management with “biologic” drugs. Prior to its passage in 2006, Medicare covered only one of the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors, the infusion drug infliximab, also known by its brand name, Remicade.

An anti-inflammatory response to the vegan diet

harminka — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:49:08 -0500

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who eat a gluten-free vegan diet could be better protected against heart attacks and stroke. RA is a major risk factor for these cardiovascular diseases, but a gluten-free vegan diet was shown to lower cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and oxidizedLDL, as well as raising the levels of natural antibodies against the damaging compounds in the body that cause symptoms of the chronic inflammatory disease rheumatoid arthritis, such as phosphorylcholine.

Scientists shine new light on inflammatory diseases

harminka — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:58:54 -0500

Investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery have identified a new mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanism may also shed some light on why gene therapy experiments that use adenoviruses to deliver genes to humans have run into problems. The study will appear online on March 16 in the journal Nature Immunology.

Misdiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

harminka — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:20:29 -0600

In an article recommended by Annelies Boonen of Faculty of 1000 Medicine, researchers look at the way rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed by analysing the administrative databases used by physicians in Quebec.