Early, structured disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy reduces cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis--a single centre study using non-biologic drugs

• Published in: Journal of the Association of Physicians of India Vol. 61; no. 8; p. 531
• Main Authors: Chatterjee, Sumit, Sarkate, Pankaj, Ghosh, Sudip, Biswas, Monodeep, Ghosh, Alakendu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antirheumatic Agents - administration & dosage; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cholesterol - blood; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine - administration & dosage; Isoxazoles - administration & dosage; Male; Methotrexate - administration & dosage; Methylprednisolone - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Sulfasalazine - administration & dosage; Triglycerides - blood; Young Adult

Rheumatoid arthritis, being a chronic disease requires long-term management of patients with drugs. The increasing cost of biologics in this era of disease management led us to devise a treatment regime, optimal for use in a developing country like India, which was economical as well as effective in...