Interpreting clinical trial results for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis: practical applications for rheumatology healthcare providers.

Purpose: To provide a general overview of clinical trials and more specifically define measurements common to rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials for the purpose of providing a foundation for rheumatology healthcare providers to translate clinical trial findings into their clinical practice and enhance their patient education discussions.

Data Sources: English-language publications cited in the MEDLINE database were used to develop the content of this review article.

Conclusions: The role of rheumatology healthcare providers has evolved to include numerous vital functions, such as expanding communication between specialists and primary care providers, patient education and counseling, assistance with coping strategies, monitoring response to therapy, and administration of therapy.

New therapeutic options in rheumatoid arthritis: a focus on interleukin-6 blockade.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic and incurable autoimmune disease characterized by synovial joint damage and systemic inflammation, often leads to substantial disability and reduced quality of life. Biologics, a class of medication that targets key pathways in the RA inflammatory response, have increased therapeutic options in the past decade. Because several biologics are administered intravenously, specialized training in administration and updates on RA management are increasingly needed.

Patient perceptions concerning pain management in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Previous qualitative studies have revealed discrepancies between patients' and physicians' perceptions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its treatment. Questionnaires were administered to 2795 patients with RA (756 from Europe; 2039 from the USA) to measure patients' perceptions regarding pain management in RA. Although the majority of patients reported their RA as somewhat-to-completely controlled, 75% of European and 82% of US patients reported their pain as moderate-to-severe in the previous 2 months.

Nursing considerations for infusion therapy in rheumatoid arthritis versus malignancy.

Therapeutic agents in use for years may receive Food and Drug Administration approval for new indications, challenging infusion nurses to keep in mind differences in therapy for more than 1 disease state. For example, many infusion nurses are familiar with using rituximab in an oncology setting; however, because it has been approved relatively recently (February 2006) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), infusion specialists must improve their understanding of how dosing and administration differ in the RA setting. This article focuses on the specific pathophysiology of the RA disease state and patient characteristics that may affect infusion therapy, illustrated by a case study.

Patient profiles in psoriatic disease: a case-based approach.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are related conditions that can have numerous untoward consequences. Moreover, appropriate management of these conditions can be challenging, as each affected patient has unique needs that must be addressed. With that in mind, the authors discuss three real-life cases, highlighting principles that may facilitate the effective case-by-case management of psoriatic disease.