Purpose of review: Early effective treatment has led to major improvements in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This review aims to address the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis, in particular the different therapeutic strategies evaluated in clinical trials to achieve optimal disease control.
Recent findings: The use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) has significantly improved patient outcomes. Overall, studies using bDMARD induction have shown early clinical improvements, with high proportions achieving remission with minimal radiographic progression. As these drugs are still relatively costly, conventional synthetic DMARDs, as monotherapy or in combination, remain the mainstay of treatment initiation. Good, albeit somewhat slower, responses can be achieved with these drugs. Strategies incorporating glucocorticoids and a treat-to-target approach (i.e. regular monitoring of disease activity and early treatment escalation with a conventional synthetic or b-DMARD, if needed) have shown additional benefit. In patients achieving low disease activity or remission, bDMARD dose reduction and withdrawal, and even drug-free remission have been possible in some.
Summary: In patients with early rheumatoid arthritis, conventional synthetic DMARDs and glucocorticoids used within a treat-to-target setting, and the addition of a bDMARD if required, outcomes have improved significantly. A proportion of patients are able to deescalate treatment after bDMARD therapy, with a significant minority achieving drug-free remission.