VARIATIONS AMONG RHEUMATOLOGISTS IN PRESCRIBING AND MONITORING OF DISEASE MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATOID DRUGS

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Abstract
One hundred consultant rheumatologists were sent a questionnaire on their prescribing pattern, and dose and monitoring schedules of four disease modifying antirheumatoid drugs (DMARDs). Seventy-five completed questionnaires were received. Sulphasalazine was the most popular first choice DMARD. There was general agreement on dose schedules which were similar to those recommended in the data sheets although for each drug a minority used different dose schedules. There was, however, marked variation among respondents in what was accepted as an adequate trial of therapy, in monitoring schedules and in the interpretation of results of toxicity monitoring. In many cases these practices differed significantly from the data sheet recommendations. These differences in stated practice could have financial and medicolegal as well as clinical implications.

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