Recent advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 0.5% to 1% of the population worldwide. Because there is no cure for this disease, the goal of therapy is to control the underlying inflammatory process and maintain or improve function. This article reviews 4 new treatments for patients with RA: leflunomide, etanercept, infliximab, and the protein A immunoadsorption column with plasmapheresis therapy.
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Division of Immunology, Clinical Faculty, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D000069285:Infliximab; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077339:Leflunomide; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007555:Isoxazoles; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077339:Leflunomide; D000068800:Etanercept