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Multiple new therapies have recently been developed to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a disabling condition with a lifetime risk in the U.S. of 3.6% in women and 1.7% in men (Arthritis Rheum 2011; 63:633). To broaden the scope of prior guidelines, the American College of Rheumatology conducted a systematic literature review addressing use of:
Traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, and tofacitinib (a JAK inhibitor that modulates immune responses)
Glucocorticoids
Therapy in high-risk populations
Vaccines.
The recommendations also cover screening for tuberculosis and laboratory monitoring. The complete guideline, including free treatment algorithms, is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/art…