Problem
Musculoskeletal Case
Mrs. PJ is a 67-year-old woman who has recently attended the hospital's rheumatology clinic. She has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She has come to the community pharmacy where you work to collect her new prescription for sulfasalazine.
A. What is rheumatoid arthritis?
B. What are the risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis?
C. What are the clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis?
D. What diagnostic tests are done to help confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
E. The major treatments for rheumatoid arthritis include NSAIDs and DMARDs. What do the abbreviations NSAID and DMARD stand for?
F. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is a DMARD. Describe how it works.
G. What are common side-effects of sulfasalazine.
H. Is there anyone who should not take sulfasalazine?
I. What other conditions is sulfasalazine licensed for?
J. What other medications or treatments might Mrs. PJ try for her rheumatoid arthritis if sulfasalazine does not work?