DMARD III medications include which of the following?

DMARD III medications include which of the following?

• A. Gold salts or azathioprine
• B. Methotrexate and leflunomide
• C. Hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine
• D. TNF inhibitors

Answer: (A)

DMARD III refers to older, non-biologic immunosuppressive agents that were among the first disease-modifying drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis. Gold salts and azathioprine fit this category, since they were historically grouped with early DMARDs and used to slow joint damage. The other drugs listed belong to different DMARD groups: methotrexate and leflunomide are potent conventional DMARDs placed in a later category; hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine are also conventional DMARDs but not part of the DMARD III grouping; TNF inhibitors are biologic DMARDs. So the option listing gold salts or azathioprine is the correct match for DMARD III.

DMARD III refers to older, non-biologic immunosuppressive agents that were among the first disease-modifying drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis. Gold salts and azathioprine fit this category, since they were historically grouped with early DMARDs and used to slow joint damage. The other drugs listed belong to different DMARD groups: methotrexate and leflunomide are potent conventional DMARDs placed in a later category; hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine are also conventional DMARDs but not part of the DMARD III grouping; TNF inhibitors are biologic DMARDs. So the option listing gold salts or azathioprine is the correct match for DMARD III.