Rheumatoid arthritis

Polymyalgia rheumatica and steroid tapering: feasibility of a pharmacy technician-led service in primary care

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common inflammatory disorder among adults aged over 65 years and is primarily managed in primary care​1,2​. It is characterised by rapid-onset and usually bilateral shoulder and pelvic girdle pain and stiffness 1. Treatment with oral prednisolone, typically…

Health news round-up: NICE approvals, surveillance data and GLP-1 warnings

A weekly summary of important developments in pharmacy and health news that you may have missed.…

Abatacept could delay rheumatoid arthritis for high-risk patients

Researchers found that abatacept was more effective in delaying the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with high levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibody.…

Rheumatoid arthritis: management

An overview of the medicines used for symptom control and disease modification, with consideration given to non-pharmacological approaches that support management of rheumatoid arthritis.…

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: recognition, diagnosis and conventional pharmacological management

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common chronic childhood rheumatic disease. Pharmacists are a vital part of the multidisciplinary team and should be aware of the considerations for pharmacological management.…

HRT associated with 46% increase in rheumatoid arthritis, suggest study results

Despite study results showing an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, the British Menopause Society cautions that the results are unlikely to change HRT prescribing practice.…

Risk assessment for rheumatoid arthritis drug could result in fewer blood tests for patients, research suggests

Researchers have developed a risk-stratified monitoring system for toxicity linked to methotrexate to determine a patient's risk of abnormal blood test results.…

NSAIDs fail to reduce joint inflammation for people with arthritis of the knee, study results show

Comparing two groups of people with synovitis, researchers found that those treated with long-term oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had worse synovitis than those not treated with the drugs.…

‘Milestone’ as NICE recommends biologics in moderate rheumatoid arthritis for the first time

Updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will increase access to advanced therapies adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab within the NHS.…

Draft NICE guidance recommends first biologics for treatment of moderate rheumatoid arthritis

Final draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence states that adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab are recommended in the treatment of moderate rheumatoid arthritis.…