RA - Treatment

Question 1

Why should we treat RA?

Answer 1

Symptoms relief and prevention of damage
Aim to treat people early, prevent long term damage

Question 2

How do we treat RA, what are the principles of treatment?

Answer 2

Window of Opportunity - early and aggressive treatment may have long term benefits
Treat to target

Question 3

What is combination treatment?

Answer 3

Triple Therapy - is more effective than a single-agent

Question 4

What gene is associated with more serious forms of RA?

Answer 4

HLA-DRB1

Question 5

What markers in blood tests are key in diagnosing arthritis?

Answer 5

HIGH ESR, CRP
Positive RF and ACPA

Question 6

What clinical assessments are done pre diagnosis?

Answer 6

DAS score
Ask patients how they are feeling on a scale of 1-10
Health Assessment Questionnaire

Question 7

What factors put you at risk of developing arthritis?

Answer 7

Smoking
Adverse socio-economic circumstances and lower education level
earlier radiological lesions (erosions)

Question 8

What is the role of DMARDs and what are the two types?

Answer 8

Synthetic and biological and affect the cause of the disease

Question 9

Give examples of drugs which help with symptoms of the disease but do not cure the disease

Answer 9

Analgesics - paracetamol
NSAIDS - Naproxen or Ibuprofen
- PPI is added due to long term use of steroids

Question 10

Give an example of a csDMARDs

Answer 10

Methotrexate

Question 11

Give an example of bDMARDs

Answer 11

TNFi, B cell depletion, IL-6 inhibition, JAK inhibition