Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the key to treating rheumatoid arthritis, and timely initiation can prevent joint damage. Although the multiple classes of DMARDs can make treatment decisions challenging, family physicians often prescribe these medications. DMARDs are categorized as conventional synthetic (csDMARDs), biologic (bDMARDs), and targeted synthetic (tsDMARDs). Table 1 lists DMARDs approved for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published updated guidelines focused solely on medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Initial Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

For patients without previous DMARD use, treatment recommendations are stratified by disease activity using patient ratings and inflammation measures.

Low Disease Activity

With low disease activity (see Editor's Note for a measurement scale), consider, in this order, initial treatment with hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), methotrexate, and leflunomide (Arava). Hydroxychloroquine is better tolerated and has a better risk profile than the others. Sulfasalazine is recommended over methotrexate and leflunomide because it causes less immunosuppression. Methotrexate is recommended over leflunomide because of lower cost and better dosing flexibility.

Moderate to High Disease Activity

With moderate to high disease activity, methotrexate is the best initial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate has stronger evidence of disease-modifying activity than the other csDMARDs, hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine. Although some bDMARDs and tsDMARDs have evidence of better outcomes, methotrexate is safe and effective, with convenient dosing and low cost. Combination therapy is not recommended for initial treatment because it is unnecessary for many patients and incurs higher toxicity and cost. Recommendations for methotrexate therapy are summarized in Table 2.

Neither short- nor long-term glucocorticoid therapy is recommended as standard initial treatment, although some patients may require short-term glucocorticoid therapy in addition to DMARDs to aid with symptom control.

Treat-to-Target Therapy

Because initial treatment depends on disease activity measured by a standard scale, optimal doses should be determined by target disease activity. Although the evidence is strongest for patients treated with csDMARDs alone, treat-to-target therapy is recommended for all patients. An initial target of low disease activity is recommended because remission may not be achievable for many patients.

Adjusting Antirheumatic Therapy

For patients without adequate symptom control on methotrexate alone, another medication should be added. Studies demonstrate that triple therapy, a combination of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine, is as effective as adding a bDMARD or tsDMARD. The ACR recommends adding a bDMARD or tsDMARD based on a more rapid improvement in symptoms and the greater persistence of therapy in observational studies. Yet, the cost of triple therapy is significantly less and may be appropriate for some patients.

If adding a bDMARD or tsDMARD does not improve symptoms to the targeted disease activity level, switching to a different class of bDMARD or tsDMARD is recommended based on very low-quality evidence. Switching DMARD medications or adding another DMARD is preferred to adding or continuing glucocorticoids, including intraarticular glucocorticoids.

Tapering or Discontinuing DMARD Therapy

Because stopping all DMARDs is associated with a moderate to high risk of a symptom flare-up and potential for irreversible damage, a minimum of one DMARD is recommended in all patients. For patients with symptoms at the targeted level for less than six months, continuing all DMARDs at their current dose is recommended. Because the risk of a flare-up is highest when lowering the dose or stopping DMARDs, any dose reductions should be gradual. For patients taking triple therapy, discontinuing sulfasalazine should be considered before hydroxychloroquine. If patients are taking methotrexate and a bDMARD or tsDMARD, tapering methotrexate should be considered first because the bDMARD or tsDMARD was added after methotrexate alone was ineffective.

Coexisting Conditions

For patients with subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules, methotrexate is recommended as initial therapy unless nodules progress. Switching to a different DMARD is then recommended.

Although preexisting lung disease is a risk factor for methotrexate-related pneumonitis, the risk is uncertain and other therapies can also worsen lung disease. Methotrexate is recommended with careful monitoring.

For patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, methotrexate should be restricted to those with normal liver enzymes and no history of fibrosis.