Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic, progressive, autoimmune disease that preferentially attacks the joints. Because it is a systemic condition, it may also affect the eyes, skin, lungs, blood, and central nervous system.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2.1 million Americans and though there is no cure, there are medicines that are currently available that can put the condition into remission.
The combination that seems to work the best for most patients is to use both methotrexate, a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), along with a TNF-inhibitor. These are drugs that block the effect of tumor necrosis factor, a protein that is largely responsible for the inflammation and destruction seen in rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of these drugs are etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), and adalimumab (Humira).
Because of the mode of action of these drugs which is to interfere with immune function, there has been concern regarding side effects. Chief among these side-effects is infection.
There is an increased incidence of infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by itself. Certain factors such as severe disease, diabetes, involvement of organ systems besides the joints, chronic lung disease, and older age all contribute to this increased risk.
In addition, concomitant use of corticosteroids such as prednisone also appear to […]

Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles

Bookmark to: