Go With Us! to EULAR 2025: Should We Treat RA Before It Starts? The Big Debate

In this Go With Us! video, Tiffany and Deb share insights from a hot topic debate at EULAR 2025: Should we treat people at high risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before they even have a full diagnosis?

Experts argued both sides—some said early treatment could delay disease, lower long-term costs, and help patients feel better sooner. Others warned we may not know enough yet to make such a big move.

You’ll learn:
Why some doctors support giving biologics early to delay or prevent RA
What “pre-RA” means and who might benefit from early treatment
The role of ACPA, a blood marker linked to more severe disease
Why methotrexate might not be enough—and what biologics could offer
What you might want to think about if you’re at risk for RA

Whether you’re living with symptoms or trying to catch disease early, this patient-friendly recap helps you understand where the science is headed.

00:00 – Welcome from Tiffany and Deb at EULAR 2025
00:20 – What was the debate about? Treating “pre-RA”
05:22 – Pro side: early biologics may delay RA for up to 5 years
08:18 – Con side: is it too risky or expensive for uncertain outcomes?
10:28 – Biologics vs methotrexate: differences in long-term outcomes
12:13 – Rethinking the question: it’s not just about prevention—it’s about better outcomes
14:30 – Final thoughts: what do you think?

Our hosts, Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, Leila P.L. Valete, Deb Constien, and Eileen Davidson, are on site in Barcelona, Spain, for the next few days attending this event, and here are the updates for June 13th, 2025 after Day 3 at EULAR 2025.

This is part of our Go With Us! series -- bringing patients along to global conferences so we can all learn together. Want to learn more about our Go With Us to scientific conferences series? Please go to our website to learn more and sign up to be among the first to get our newest updates and insider information: https://www.aiarthritis.org/conferences

AiArthritis helps those, like us, who are affected by autoimmune and autoinflammatory arthritis diseases, use their voices - as equals alongside other stakeholders - to solve problems that impact education, advocacy, and research.