RA- Non-Disease Modifying Therapies

Question 1

RA non-disease modifying therapies

Answer 1

NSAIDs and steroids

Question 2

Caveat about non-disease modifying therapies

Answer 2

They don’t reduce or alter disease progression, only help with symptom relief

Question 3

Benefits of NSAIDs

Answer 3

Decrease joint pain and inflammation
Acute symptom relief

Question 4

When to use NSAIDs in RA treatment

Answer 4

Adjunct to disease modifying agents

Question 5

Benefits of steroids

Answer 5

Decrease joint pain and inflammation

Question 6

When to use steroids in RA treatment

Answer 6

Bridge to disease modifier onset of action

Question 7

Steroid dose for RA flares

Answer 7

Short-term, high doses

Question 8

Steroid dose for refractory RA

Answer 8

Long-term, low doses (preferred to add or switch to a disease-modifying treatment)

Question 9

Steroids in the guidelines

Answer 9

Don’t necessarily recommend starting steroids early in treatment, but frequently necessary to use steroids to alleviate symptoms

Question 10

Non-pharm therapies for RA

Answer 10

Rest, weight loss, PT and OT (assistive devices, exercise, physiotherapy), patient education, surgery for severe RA (tendon repair, arthroplasty, tenosynovectomy)