New guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have been issued by the American College of Rheumatology.

Co-authored by physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the guidelines update strategies for treating the condition with the aim of preventing joint damage and disability.

According to the revised recommendations, effective combinations of medicines and the development of new disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have significantly improved the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Lead author, Dr Kenneth Saag, professor in the UAB Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, said: "The recommendations developed are not intended to be used in a 'cookbook' or prescriptive manner, or to limit a physician's clinical judgment. They provide guidance based on clinical evidence and expert panel input."

Some of the revised guidelines include the administration of methotrexate or leflunomide therapy for most patients and the prescription of anti-TNF agents - adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade) - in addition to methotrexate to treat worsening symptoms in early cases.

However, physicians are warned not to prescribe anti-TNF agents to patients with a medical history of heart failure, lymphoma or multiple sclerosis.

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• HUMIRA 40 mg - 51.61%
  Rheumatoid arthritis Humira in combination with methotrexate, is indicated for: § the treatment of moderate to severe, active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients when the response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including methotrexate has been inadequate. § the treatment of severe ...
  
  
• ECONAC - 51.61%
  ... in a wide range of conditions, including: arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteo-arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gout; acute musculoskeletal disorders such as peri-arthritis (eg, frozen shoulder), tendinitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis; other painful conditions resulting from ...
  
  
• INDOCID - 49.42%
  Indocid Capsules and Indocid Suppositories: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease of the hip, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gouty arthritis, lumbago, acute peri-articular disorders, orthopaedic procedures. Dysmenorrhoea. Indocid-R: As above except acute gouty arthritis ...
  
  
• MOBIC - 48.68%
  ... symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (chronic polyarthritis); symptomatic treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. Mobic Tablets: Osteoarthritis, 7.5 mg once daily at mealtimes. Increase if necessary to maximum 15 mg once daily. Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, 15 mg once daily ...
  
  
• ARCOXIA Film-coated Tablets - 47.95%
  For the symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the pain and signs of inflammation associated with acute gouty arthritis. The decision to prescribe a selective COX-2 inhibitor should be based on an assessment of the individual patient's overall risks (See ...
  
  
• PLAQUENIL - 47.95%
  Rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus. Skin conditions erythematosus. Skin conditions aggravated by sunlight ...