title: Past, present and future drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Historically, treatment of complex autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus has aimed to relieve symptoms, and in severe cases, use broad-spectrum immunosuppressive treatments in attempts to induce permanent remission. Recent research into the causes of chronic autoimmune inflammatory activation have not only explored the mechanism of action of known therapies, but also provided a number of new targets for therapy, by identifying the cells, cytokines and signalling pathways activated during autoimmune antibody mediated processes. This review briefly outlines progress in the understanding of the autoimmune nature of rheumatoid diseases and the expansion of treatment options, from broad to specific immunotherapies for these closely related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Austin Research Institute, Kronheimer Building, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia. p.mottram@ari.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mottram
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000962:Antimalarials; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006046:Gold