Emerging drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, systemic, autoimmune disease characterized by symmetric arthritis of diarthrodial joints leading to progressive erosion of cartilage and bone. The individual and social impacts of RA are of great importance.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the development of new therapies for RA treatment.


METHODS
Various databases have been searched for new drugs in clinical trials (Phase I - III) and experimental future therapeutic agents for RA.


CONCLUSIONS
The current management of the disease includes the use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and the biologic therapies. Progress in our understanding of RA pathophysiology led to the identification of new therapeutic targets. These include pro-inflammatory cytokines, T and B cells, adhesion molecules, chemokines and intra- and extracellular signaling pathways. Therapeutic modulation of the above targets can provide new treatment strategies. This article reviews a few of the new treatment strategies currently being evaluated.
Voulgari
Paraskevi V
PV
University of Ioannina, Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical school, 45 110 Ioannina, Greece. pvoulgar@cc.uoi.gr
D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational