The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance \u2018Rheumatoid Arthritis in Adults: management\u2019, updated in 2018, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care support of people living with the condition. The guidance emphasises the need for early diagnosis, with urgent referral to a specialist rheumatologist on suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is because treatment at an early stage can halt progression of disease. The guidance also recommends patients with RA are managed by a multidisciplinary team, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology support.<\/p>
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Patients can often be successfully managed disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologic drugs if DMARDs do not produce the desired results or are not tolerated. Biologicals target individual molecules and tend to work more quickly than conventional DMARDs. Local National Health Service commissioners should take NICE guidance into account when planning services for local populations. The full guidance can be viewed at the following link:<\/p>
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