title: Current concepts regarding pharmacologic treatment of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
abstract: Treating patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains challenging; however, new agents offer the chance for an improved quality of life. As an alternative to traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors provide pain relief for OA and RA patients with possible fewer side effects. Otherwise, OA patients may opt for topical agents, injections, or supplements. Rheumatoid arthritis research has led to an improved understanding of the inflammatory cascade and an appreciation of the early tissue destruction. A new treatment philosophy has thus emerged along with the development of new biologic agents; the latter, along with combination therapy and a new disease modifying antirheumatic drug, leflunomide, have greatly expanded the chances for disease control in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wildy
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wasko
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068579:Celecoxib; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D000068800:Etanercept; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011720:Pyrazoles; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013450:Sulfones
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007555:Isoxazoles; D007783:Lactones; D011720:Pyrazoles; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077339:Leflunomide; D000068579:Celecoxib; D000068800:Etanercept; D008727:Methotrexate