2017 RECOMMENDATION PROPOSAL OF THE CROATIAN SOCIETY OF RHEUMATOLOGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH BIOLOGIC DRUGS AND TARGETED SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Authors:
Joško Mitrović, Jadranka Morović-Vergles, Dušanka Martinović Kaliterna, Branimir Anić, Đurđica Babić-Naglić, Simeon Grazio, Frane Grubišić, Nadica Laktašić-Žerjavić, Nikolina Ljubičić Marković, Miroslav Mayer, Srđan Novak, Višnja Prus, Tea Schnurrer-Luke-Vrbanić, Tonko Vlak
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease that primarily affects joints, but may also affect inner organs, skin, as well as the sensory and nervous systems. Additionally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Over the last years the approach to management of rheumatoid arthritis has been significantly changed. Early diagnosis as well as early onset of treatment with synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs is now considered to be of utmost importance to prevent irreversible damage in this serious illness. The Croatian Rheumatological Society of the Croatian Medical Association has updated the recommendations for management of rheumatoid arthritis in line with the most recent advances in the field.