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Scientific Update on The Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Bianca Gabriella de Oliveira
Médica residente de Ortopedia e Traumatologia pelo Hospital Geral CleristonAndrade, Feira de Santana, BA.
Renato Barbalho Reid
Orthopedic Surgeon and Traumatologist at hospital Hospital das Clínicas Costantino Otaviano(HCTC)- Teresópolis, RJ.
Nayara Maria Timóteo Gonçalves Faria
Orthopedic Surgeon and Traumatologist at hospital Hospital das Clínicas Costantino Otaviano(HCTC)- Teresópolis, RJ.
Daniel Poltronieri Rangel
Orthopedic Surgeon and Traumatologist at Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, ES.
Mariana de Souza Massetti
Orthopedic Surgeon and Traumatologist at HNSG – Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças(HNSG) - Canoas, RS
tajmspr 2025
VOL. 7 / NO. 05 MAY
VOLUME 7
ISSUE 05
YEAR 2025
PAGES 62-69

Abstract

Objective: To update the treatment and management of rheumatoid arthritis. The secondary objective is to provide the orthopedic medical community with greater confidence in evidence-based treatment. Methodology: Systematic review with meta-analysis carried out in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO)

database ID CRD42024570667. The search was carried out in databases linked to MEDLINE using the terms treatment and rheumatoid arthritis. Results: 1,157 patients were evaluated, of whom 715 were treated with oral methotrexate and 442 with subcutaneous methotrexate. Adverse events resulting from the administration of methotrexate, whether oral or subcutaneous, do occur, in some patients they are more severe and some even give up on this therapy. Among the gastric manifestations, diarrhea was one of the most frequent, as were headaches in neurological manifestations and local symptoms resulting from administration, common to the subcutaneous route. Conclusions: If the oral route is not bearable due to gastrointestinal effects, studies suggest an appropriate switch to the subcutaneous form, to allow continuous use and maintain disease control.

Keywords

Rheumatoid arthritis Treatment Control of rheumatic diseases

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