title: Rheumatoid arthritis: status of drug therapies.
abstract: This article describes the current drug therapies used to manage rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A brief description of the pathology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of RA is presented. The purpose of the article is to increase an awareness among physical therapists regarding the medications their patients might be taking and how these agents might influence the outcome of physical therapy intervention. The general approach to prescribing medication is presented according to the status of the disease. The attributes of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, slow-acting antirheumatic drugs, and cytotoxic and experimental drugs used in RA are described. Given the potential benefits, side effects, and adverse reactions of these potentially powerful medications, it is important for the physical therapist to monitor closely what is happening to the patient with respect to the use or nonuse of the medication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, College of Health, Adjunct Professor of Internal Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moncur
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050607:Organogold Compounds; D010347:Patient Care Planning
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000962:Antimalarials; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D050607:Organogold Compounds