FIGURE 3.
Our approach to treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) beyond the first year of disease. DMARD therapy refers to use of methotrexate (MTX) and other conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Biologic therapy refers to treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, or anakinra. anti–IL-6R = anti-interleukin 6 receptor; CDAI = Clinical Disease Activity Index; CTLA4:Ig = cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4:immunoglobulin fusion protein; HCQ = hydroxychloroquine; IL-1ra = interleukin 1 receptor antagonist; LEF = leflunomide; mAb = monoclonal antibody; Rx = prescription; SDAI = Simplified Disease Activity Index; SSZ = sulfasalazine.