EDITORIAL - Effective RA treatment requires comprehensive management strategies

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Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:138doi:10.1186/ar2872

Editorial

Effective rheumatoid arthritis treatment requires comprehensive

management strategies

Chad S Boomershine

Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt Center for

Molecular Neuroscience, Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health,

Vanderbilt University, 1161 21st Ave S, T3219 MCN Nashville, TN

37232-2681, USA

Abstract

Work by Lee and colleagues has shown that decreased sleep quality and

increased psychiatric distress increase pain sensitivity at both

articular and nonarticular sites in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

patients. This work is consistent with prior studies showing that

factors independent of RA disease activity can influence RA outcome

measures. Owing to increasing pressure on rheumatologists to use

outcome measures to inform treatment decisions, the work by Lee and

colleagues highlights the need for comprehensive RA management

strategies to understand and address the human factors that influence

outcomes measures. Such strategies will ensure appropriate use of

increasingly expensive therapies while maximizing patient satisfaction

and reimbursement.

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Read the full editorial here:

http://arthritis-research.com/content/11/6/138

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