Long-term drug therapy in inflammatory rheumatic diseases using chronic polyarthritis as an example. 2. Basic principles of long-term drug therapy: choice of optimal therapeutic agents
Menninger, H.; Burkhardt, H.
Fortschritte der Medizin 101(14): 639-645
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-8178 PMID: 6406332 Document Number: 199292
The article reviews the principles of the long-term drug therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. A nomogram is presented which allows selection of adequate antiphlogistic and long-term drugs according to activity and progression of the disease. Steroids, non-steroidal antiphlogistics, gold, D-penicillamine and azathioprine are described in the order of their application during treatment of a severe polyarticular flare-up. Some of the drug regimens are relevant also to diseases other than rheumatoid arthritis, but drug therapy reflects only a single aspect in the treatment of these diseases and has to be applied together with non-pharmacologic methods (surgery, physical therapy, functional therapy, psychology etc.).