[Drug therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. Recommendations to specialists and general practitioners]

We report from a workshop on pharmacological treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, arranged by the Swedish Medical Product Agency in October 1991. The purpose was to reach consensus and make recommendations concerning treatment with corticosteroids and anti-rheumatic drugs. It was recommended to start treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs as soon as the diagnosis of an active rheumatoid arthritis was established. The selection of drugs for the individual patient should be determined both by patient and drug factors. The therapy requires close monitoring, a co-operative task for the specialist and general practitioner. Use of anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy and lactation was not recommended, except for sulphasalazine.