title: Rheumatoid arthritis: developing pharmacological therapies.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that, despite recent advances in therapy, still results in significant morbidity, mortality and disability. The aetiology remains unknown and past therapies, although helpful for the majority of patients, have been suboptimal. The recent introduction of newer agents has changed the treatment paradigm of RA. COX-2 inhibitors, anti-TNF agents and interleukin-1 antagonists have allowed us to treat RA more effectively with relatively low risk of side effects. Investigations of other possible treatment pathways, such as inhibition of angiogenesis, may produce still better treatment and rapid unraveling of the immune system and how it relates to RA greatly enhances the opportunities for improved therapeutics in RA.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Misischia
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Moreland
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D016023:Integrins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016023:Integrins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept