TREATMENT PATTERNS OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ACCORDING TO THE PRESENCE OF RHEUMATOID FACTOR

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: High titer of rheumatoid factor (RF) in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is mostly associated with more severe disease and presence of extra-articular features. To choose the best treatment of RA need the combination of science and art.

Objective: the aim of the study was to find the comparison of pharmacological treatment patterns in rheumatoid arthritis patients according to the presence of rheumatoid factor in the serum.

Method: This study was a retrospective quantitative observational. The data was collected from medical records of new patients with rheumatoid arthritis who came to the appointment at Rheumatology Clinic Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta in 2010.

Results: The total of 39 new patients was eligible in this study. A corticosteroid was the most commonly prescribed (93% of the sero-positive and 84% of the sero-negative patients). Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were used in 92% sero-positive and 84% sero-negative patients (p=0.827; df=6). In choosing the DMARDs, Chloroquine was the most commonly prescribed (29% of sero-positive and 44% of sero-negative patients), followed by methotrexate (21% of sero-positive and 24% of sero-negative) and suphasalazine (21% of sero-positive and 0% of sero-negative). Leflunomide, doxycycline and combined DMARDs were some time prescribed. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used in 64% sero-positive and 68% sero-negative patients.

Conclusion: Corticosteroid was the most commonly prescribed drug. There was no difference between the sero-positive and sero-negative of total patients using DMARDs.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid factor, corticosteroid, diseases modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.