How do you counsel patients with RA stable on csDMARDs on whether to attempt tapering or not?
While remission rates after lowering or discontinuing therapy are lower, there is still a population of patients who do not require full-dose therapy to remain in remission. Do you generally encourage patients to attempt taper after a period of stability?
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Do you attempt to taper csDMARD therapy in patients in sustained remission?
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2 Answers
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Rheumatology · University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Answered on
It is important to recognize that this counseling is highly individualized and that factors such as risks of medication toxicity, age, comorbidities and disease severity all play a part. However, several studies have demonstrated a significantly increased risk of RA flares and radiographic progressi...
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Rheumatology · Washington University Physicians
Answered on
This is an important discussion with patients as an estimated 15% of patients in remission self-discontinue therapy with unpredictable morbidity and optimally trialed with supervision/shared decision-making. In RA patients within 3 years of their initial diagnosis, I raise this issue after they have...
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