[Treatment strategy for rheumatoid arthritis in Croatia]

The main objectives of the current treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are disease control, inhibition of radiographic progression and finally remission. Presumptions to achieving these goals are early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and early administered therapy with disease modifying drugs as monotherapy or combination of drugs. The optimal therapeutic response is influenced by tight control of the patients, evaluation of efficacy and tolerability and change of therapeutic strategy as needed. For the patients refractory to standard disease modifying drugs anti-TNFa drugs can be added. The choice of anti-TNFalpha drug should be done regarding efficacy, tolerability and method of drug administration. In a patient who is failing to respond after 3 months to one anti-TNFalpha we can try other one or rituximab.