Disease modifying drugs in rheumatoid arthritis

摘要

Despite extensive research rheumatoid arthritis continues to cause suffering, disability, economic loss, and premature death. New approaches to treatment include immunotherapy, targeting cell surface structures, cell functions, cytokines, and adhesion molecules known to have a role in the inflammatory reaction. However, the clinical controversy is whether to treat every patient soon after onset with disease modifying drugs. These include antimalarials, sulphasalazine, D-penicillamine, oral and parenteral gold, and methotrexate.