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ACR updates guidelines for use of DMARDs and biologic drugs
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The American College of Rheumatology released 2012 recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
The guidelines, published in Arthritis Care & Research, are an update to the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR’s) 2008 recommendations. According to a Wiley-Blackwell news release, the new recommendations address the issues of initiating and switching drugs, screening for tuberculosis (TB) reactivation, immunization and the use of biologics in high-risk rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
“Effective treatment of RA is essential to control disease progression and improve quality of life for patients,” lead researcher Jasvinder A. Singh, MD, stated in the release. “With additional advancements in RA therapies since 2008, it was important to update recommendations that help guide rheumatologists in treating RA patients receiving [disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)] or biologic therapies.”
According to the release, the 2012 DMARD and biologic agents recommendations included a number of areas but concentrated on four updated sections:
- indications for use and switching of DMARDs and biologics;
- use of biologic agents in high-risk RA patients with hepatitis, cancer or congestive heart failure;
- screening for TB in RA patients starting or receiving biologic drugs; and
- vaccination in patients starting or receiving DMARDs or biologics.
One significant change from the 2008 guidelines, the release noted, is more aggressive treatment in patients with early RA that is within 6 months of symptom onset. Still, the authors cautioned, each patient’s therapy target should be specific to their particular health needs.
Reference:
- Singh JA, Furst DE, Bharat A, et al. 2012 update of the 2008 American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 2012. doi: 10.1002/acr.21641