Rheumatoid arthritis in 2003: where are we now with treatment?

Rheumatoid arthritis in 2003: where are we now with treatment?

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed considerably over the course of the century. It is difficult to fathom that 100 years ago it was directed towards removing potential sources of infection, with dental extractions and tonsillectomies. Despite appreciable advances, many of the tenets that we currently hold for the management of RA were originally proposed over 70 years ago. R...

Reflection for the undergraduate on writing in the portfolio: where are we now and where are we going?

Introduction: The portfolio can be seen as a tool for assessmentof a variety of learning activities that differ in content, usage, andassessment. The portfolio not only meets the learner’s educationalneeds but also the political and public reassurance demand thatthe health professional has achieved the required competency ofthe curriculum that allows him or her to practice safely with orwithout...

Rheumatoid factors: where are we now?

Hepatitis C treatment: where are we now?

Chronic hepatitis C infection affects millions of people worldwide and confers significant morbidity and mortality. Effective treatment is needed to prevent disease progression and associated complications. Previous treatment options were limited to interferon and ribavirin (RBV) regimens, which gave low cure rates and were associated with unpleasant side effects. The era of direct-acting antiv...

Sustained biologic-free and drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis, where are we now?

The advent of new medications and new treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis has made it possible to achieve remission in more patients than before. Furthermore, recent clinical trials and register studies suggest that some patients who initially required aggressive therapy may achieve biologic-free remission or even the ultimate goal of therapy, drug-free remission, resembling recovery....