Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
http://www.globalacademycme.com/fileadmin/pdf/rhe/supplement_pdf/RH_Conference_Highlights_hires_Feb1_2013.pdf
Two recent (2013) clinical trials have provided much-needed data regarding head-to-head comparisons of biologic agents for RA. One trial demonstrated superiority of tocilizumab (Actemra) versus adalimumab (Humira) for reducing the DAS28 score (Disease activity score), including remission and low disease activity. The other trial showed that abatacept (Orencia) and adalimumab (Humira) had similar efficacy, as defined by the proportion of patients who attained ACR20 (A person's RA has improved by 20%) repsonses during a year of treatment and follow-up. Results of these trials offer clinical guidance to clinicians who treat patients with RA.
http://www.das-score.nl/das28/DAScalculators/dasculators.html
Sed rate or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) Results from your sed rate test will be reported in the distance in millimeters (mm) red blood cells have descended in one hour (hr). The normal range is 0-22 mm/hr for men and 0-29 mm/hr for women.
http://ergonomics.about.com/od/ergonomicbasics/ss/painscale.htm
I like the way they add a line for "Task" under the scale. My doctor does not do that...
DAS28
DAS28
She has been advising that she will bring up actemra discussions with me again by late summer. I have not had great improvement on orencia with injections for 2 years, interrupted by few(er) pneunonias, nor on the re-itntroduction of Orencia by infusion. I previously took humira and previous to that enbrel and previous to that methotrexate and previous to that the dmard marathon.
we are not all alike in the risks we may sometimes have to choose because we are not all alike in experiencing/reporting remissions or reductions in disease activity that could keep us tethered at full time work and lots of other full time things.
thanks for sharing this, gives me stuff to read before the doc speaks to me.
Depot