Biologics for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Description:

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the available biologic therapies whilst comparing them to standard disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and discusses how best to determine which therapy is most appropriate for an individual patient in the framework of current guidelines. Biologics for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis is an up-to-date and concise practical guide to the latest therapeutic developments in this field. This book is an invaluable source of topical information for all rheumatologists and health care professionals treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Table of Contents:

1 Disease overview

Clinical presentation

Etiology and pathogenesis

Pathophysiology of joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnosis and classification

Long-term complications of rheumatoid arthritis

References

2 General treatment aspects

Goals of treatment

Measuring disease activity and treatment response

Overview of treatment approaches

Overview of the non-biologic treatments for rheumatoid arthritis

References

3 Overview of biologic therapies

Brief historical review of the emergence of biologics for rheumatoid arthritis

Overview of currently available biologic therapies

Biologic versus synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs: similarities and differences

Current guidelines for biologic use in rheumatoid arthritis

References

4 Cytokine inhibitors

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors

Interleukin-6 inhibitors

Interleukin-1 inhibitors

References

5 B-cell directed therapy

Introduction

Overview of B-cell therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

References

6 T-cell directed therapy

Overview of T-cell directed therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

References

7 Novel biologics and small molecules with biologic-like effects

Introduction

Novel biologics

Novel synthetic antirheumatic medications with biologic-like properties

References

8 Strategies for the optimal use of biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

Treatment of the patient with an inadequate response to methotrexate

Treatment of the patients with newly diagnosed methotrexate-naive rheumatoid arthritis

Induction-maintenance strategies in rheumatoid arthritis

Switching after failing an anti-tumor necrosis factor

Dose optimization with biologics: dosing up,dosing down

Head-to-head comparative studies of biologic agents

Determining which therapy is most appropriate for an individual patient: personalized therapy

References

9 Considerations for special patient populations

Special considerations in the pregnant patient

Special considerations in the pediatric patient

Special considerations in the elderly patient

References

10 Conclusions and future outlook

Historical perspective

Future perspective

Future prospects for treatment strategies in rheumatoid arthritis: ‘treating to target’

Epilogue

References