Role of antimalarials in rheumatoid arthritis--the British experience

Antimalarials have been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for over 40 years, the first report of suggestive efficacy being published in 1951. Over the years they have become part of the established treatment of RA being one of a category of drugs referred to as disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The onset of action with antimalarials is slow. Most patients use these drugs in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics. This article reviews the evidence for the efficacy of antimalarials, their place in comparison to other DMARDs and comments on the current use in RA as perceived in British rheumatology.