A 45-year-old woman presents to the clinic reporting pain and swelling in her wrists and the knuckles of both hands for the past 3 months. She mentions that her joints feel extremely stiff when she wakes up, typically taking about two hours to loosen up. Physical examination reveals tender, boggy swelling of the bilateral metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. Initial laboratory testing is notable for an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a positive rheumatoid factor. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial disease-modifying pharmacotherapy for this patient?
- MethotrexateCevap
- BIbuprofen
- CPrednisone
- DAllopurinol
- ECeftriaxone
Cevap
Methotrexate
Methotrexate is the universally accepted first-line conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis. It should be initiated promptly to slow disease progression and prevent permanent joint damage.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Rheumatoid arthritis is typically treated initially with methotrexate, a conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), to prevent irreversible joint destruction.