[Therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (chronic polyarthritis)]

A continuous and systematic monitoring of disease activity provides the basis for the therapeutic management of rheumatoid arthritis patients. This helps to individually tailor medication and to correctly time physiotherapy, ergotherapy, surgery, and rehabilitative measures. NSAID are the drugs of choice for symptomatic therapy. The dosage is adjusted to the circadian rhythm of the patient's complaints. Systemic glucocorticoids are very efficacious to control inflammation; however, caution is required in their long-term usage. Preventive measures to limit bone loss are mandatory. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) are prescribed early, at the time of diagnosis. The choice of sulfasalazine, antimalaric drugs, methotrexate or parenteral gold is based on the clinical presentation, the degree of systemic inflammation and on prognostic parameters. Treatment with DMARD has to be continued for years. If complete remission is achieved, lasting for at least six months, the dosage can be gradually reduced and finally stopped. At late stages of disease, residual joint pain is often due to secondary osteoarthritis.