Abstract

COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF METHOTREXATE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE LEFLUNOMIDE ALONE AND IN COMBINATION IN THE TREATMENT OF EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH CONCURRENT ADMINISTRATION OF LOW DOSE CORTICOSTEROID

*MD Habeeb Ali Mirza, Arigapudi Aishwarya, Vodapally Soumya Sri, Jannu Karthik Kumar and Dharani G.

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disabling inflammatory arthritis, which is associated with significant morbidity and increased mortality. Disease severity is based on the number of joints involved and the extent of pain associated with it and how it affects the daily life activities. The disease severity can be assessed using different calculators like DAS28, CDAI, SDAI, and RAPID 3. Different DMARD’S are used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis alone or in combination. Biologic DMARD’S are efficacious but are too costly and hence most often synthetic DMARD’S are used. The present study seeks to analyze the efficacy of different DMARD’S used alone or in combination, with simultaneous administration of low dose corticosteroid. The efficacy is assessed based on the ability of DMARD(S) to reduce the disease severity. The disease severity was assessed at baseline and at follow up after two months of initiation of therapy using RAPID 3 calculator.

Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA), Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3(RAPID 3) score, Methotrexate (MTX), Leflunomide (LFM), Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).