Rheumatic diseases. 2. Therapeutic considerations.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Effective management of rheumatic diseases requires careful drug selection.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are common therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy of various drugs and physical therapy in managing different rheumatic conditions.
• To provide guidance on appropriate treatment strategies for specific inflammatory joint diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of pharmacological treatments for rheumatic diseases.
• Analysis of drug efficacy data for conditions including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondylitis.

Main Results:

• Corticosteroids are indicated for active arthritis.
• Phenylbutazone is effective for acute gout, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, and psoriatic arthritis.
• Aspirin is the preferred initial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis over ibuprofen.

Conclusions:

• Treatment decisions for rheumatic diseases should be tailored to the specific condition.
• Physical therapy is crucial for spinal osteoarthritis.
• Emerging joint replacement techniques show potential for non-hip/knee joints.