It s an ability to find a way around or over an obstacle. It involves self-help rather than a learned helplessness, which we strive against. What s so nice about McPherson is that she had a wonderful response to treatment and went into remission. This occurred before joint damage had happened, so she has been able to achieve her expectations, he said. It s a goal doctors strive for at MUSC s Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic, the only clinic in the state devoted to the diagnosis and care of children with juvenile arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis and other less common childhood rheumatic diseases.
Silver is excited about advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
We ve seen more advances in the past five years than there has been in the history of treating rheumatoid arthritis. There are more effective and safer anti-inflammatory drugs out now, he said. These drugs can actually change the course of the disease by targeting the inflammatory process that happens in the joints. We re seeing the tip of the iceberg in new biologic agents that will modify the course of the disease. We ve come a long way.