Reforming the pyramid. A plan for treating rheumatoid arthritis in the 1990s

Standard treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as illustrated by the pyramid does not prevent joint damage in most patients. The concept that slow-acting drugs are uniquely disease modifying is not supported by experience. Disease modification correlates best with control of inflammation and this has been demonstrated with prednisone. Many medications working by different mechanisms have a partial or temporary effect on inflammation. Following the example of cancer chemotherapy, we propose the step-down bridge, a therapeutic plan in which a combination of drugs is used to control inflammation early in the disease before joints become damaged. Medications are then sequentially discontinued as inflammation remains controlled.