Principles of managing chronic rheumatic diseases

The principles of treating chronic rheumatic diseases are to be conceived as a complex care of the patient. Medication is just one part of the treatment, be it a very important one. Its possibilities are, however, restricted. In spite of the explosive appearance of new antirheumatic drugs we are sticking to the classical forms of treatment (salicylates, gold, antimalaric drugs). Pyrazolone derivatives and corticoids are still holding their place in the therapeutic design. They should be administered, however, wisely and one must be aware of what is to be expected of their effect. A special therapeutic problem appears to be osteoarthrosis, which has recently become more actual among the other rheumatic diseases. The therapeutic effort must be completed by social care of the patient suffering from a chronic rheumatic disease, at least in cases when the patient depends on the help of another person.