[Pharmacotherapy of rheumatic diseases in the aged].

The optimal drug therapy of inflammatory rheumatic diseases is based on an individual concept of treatment combining several antirheumatic drugs with different modes of acting. In treating older patients this individual concept has to consider special conditions, as these patients often receive further medications due to different indications so that pharmacologic interactions and comorbidity have to be taken into account. Recently, new substances like COX-2-inhibitors, the new disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) Leflunomide and particularly the cytokine-blockers provide new and highly effective treatment options. The administration of these drugs in elderly patients is discussed.