J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2010 Dec;45(6):419-425. 10.4055/jkoa.2010.45.6.419.

Recent Trend in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Yoo DH

• KMID: 2185488
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2010.45.6.419

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and destructive inflammatory disease resulting in disability. During the past 10 years, developments in medical science have improved RA treatment significantly, but have not proven curative. The most important developments over the past 10 years are the followings: 1) an emergence of new therapeutic agent against a specific single molecule or target, including biologic and chemical agents, 2) development and clinical usage of various outcome measures to detect disease activity more accurately and 3) introduction of new strategies in the treatment such as early and aggressive combination trials, depending on the disease activity. Over the course of these activities, we have been able to control clinical symptoms and signs more effectively, and slow the destruction of the joint, and finally improve the quality of life in RA patients. Here, we discuss the recent development of RA treatment and a perspective on future development.

Keyword

rheumatoid arthritis; treatment; biologic agent; outcome measure; disease activity; early arthritis; remission

MeSH Terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Humans
Joints
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Quality of Life

Figure

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  Figure 1 Therapeutic approaches based on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

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