[Pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its comorbidities]

Abstract

Due to therapeutic advances, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) today has developed into a satisfactorily treatable disease in most cases, with remission being the target of treatment. Early diagnosis with immediate treatment initiation following treat-to-target strategy is the key to a favorable long-term outcome. A guideline-directed treatment algorithm determines the use of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD; e.g., methotrexate), biological DMARD, and targeted oral DMARD (Janus kinase inhibitors). Comorbidities-in particular cardiovascular and interstitial lung disease-affect 80% of RA patients and represent the leading causes for mortality. The choice of drug treatment is influenced by the presence of comorbidities.

Keywords: Antirheumatic drugs, disease-modifying; Comorbidity, cardiovascular; Glucocorticoids; Lung disease, interstitial; Molecular targeted therapy.