The American College of Rheumatology previewed its 2020 Guideline for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis in November. New recommendations encourage a step back from steroid use and a move toward biologic and synthetic therapies.
The guidance emphasized starting patients early on immunosuppressive methotrexate and keeping them on the drug instead of switching to other anti-rheumatics, according to Liana Fraenkel, M.D., of Yale University School of Medicine.
“We offer rheumatologists guidance on the nuances of how to really maximize the use of methotrexate in these patients,” she said.
New additions to the guidelines also included a recommendation to minimize the use of glucocorticoids, or steroids, to treat rheumatoid arthritis inflammation, due to the serious side effects associated with these drugs.
The guideline also suggested adding a biologic or a targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug instead of switching patients to triple therapy, and now provides advice on drug tapering and treatment of patient populations not covered in previous guidelines.
From the December 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
