A Reevaluation of Aspirin Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Aspirin therapy, in doses commonly employed in practice, has an excellent safety profile in rheumatoid arthritis, and it is the least costly NSAID. The safety advantage is explained primarily by a dose effect and secondarily by possible differences between formulations. Newer management strategies for rheumatoid arthritis emphasize NSAID use as symptomatic therapy and use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for anti-inflammatory objectives. Thus, the original recommendation for "anti-inflammatory" doses of aspirin now is less easily justified. Aspirin therapy merits reconsideration as adjunctive therapy for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.