Adherence to Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA patients were significantly more likely to stick with a methotrexate/biologic regimen than a “triple-therapy” regimen.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment often involves introducing methotrexate early and, if response is inadequate, adding sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine (i.e., triple therapy) or a biologic (e.g., etanercept or other tumor-necrosis factor [TNF] inhibitor). In three clinical trials, the efficacy of triple therapy was equal, or nearly equal, to that of combination methotrexate and an anti-TNF agent (e.g., NEJM JW Gen Med Nov 15 2012 and Arthritis Rheum 2012; 64:2824). Triple therapy costs substantially less than methotrexate/anti-TNF therapy, but in “real word” scenarios, adherence to triple therapy, which involves taking multiple pills daily, is uncertain. ln this observational study, U.S. Veterans Affairs researchers evaluated persiste…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Adherence to Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Topics

Reviewing Author