Emphasizes the importance of early intervention in RA with focus on pharmacologic treatments of RA. Detailed information on the various medications employed in treatment, including corticosteroids, NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologic agents, and combination therapy, is reviewed, including evidence-based data on efficacy, safety, side effects, and monitoring requirements. Clinical evaluation is presented, including lab findings, joint scoring, diagnostic criteria, and radiographic outcomes. Surgical options and the management of advanced RA are discussed.

This issue covers the latest developments in the understanding of rheumatoid arthritis at the early stage. Treatments such as with newer biologic agents and conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are reviewed. Also included are articles on imaging modalities as a means of identifying those in the early stages and monitoring response to treatment.

This authoritative clinical reference provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of rheumatoid arthritis. The basics of rheumatoid arthritis are thoroughly covered in order to provide a firm foundation for the main focus of the text: therapy and clinical management of the disease. Practitioners will find detailed information on both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic courses of management, with special emphasis on the management of pain. More than 100 full-color illustrations provide clear visual support for the concepts in the text. Online references in each chapter, as well as an entire chapter on Web-based information resources, keep this book on the cutting edge of this rapidly evolving field.

Written by a world-renowned expert in rheumatology this book serves as a refresher for GPs and hospital doctors containing practical diagnostic and treatment advice. Reviews clinical developments and guidelines, and places them into everyday clinical practice Stresses the importance of early and aggressive treatment Concise but comprehensive whilst being loaded with illustrations including imaging examples all presented in pocket sized format Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common and serious inflammatory arthritis, resulting in joint destruction, functional impairment and increased mortality. The outcome of the disease, however, has improved considerably in recent years with the availability of effective therapies and the recognition that early intensive treatment strategies result in better outcomes. This book has been designed to increase physician awareness of the importance of early and intensive treatment – a key pharmaceutical strategy in rheumatoid arthritis.

This thoroughly updated second edition of 'Fast Facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis' provides an easy-to-read overview of how the condition is thought to develop and how it is diagnosed, monitored and treated. Written by two leading UK and US rheumatologists, it covers the many recent developments in this field, including: • Recently published classification criteria • The emerging role of anti-CCP autoantibodies • The latest developments in ultrasound and MRI • The association between RA and cardiovascular disease and lung disease • New concepts of undifferentiated arthritis and treatment to remission • The importance of early referral and new biological therapies 'Fast Facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis' provides a well-referenced international perspective on this condition. It is a 'must read' for all healthcare professionals caring for patients with this debilitating inflammatory joint disease. Contents: • The normal joint • Etiology • Pathogenesis • Epidemiology • Clinical features • Investigation • Assessment • Management - traditional measures • Management - biological therapies • Therapeutic developments