title: [A short history of anti-rheumatic therapy - VI. Rheumatoid arthritis drugs].
abstract: The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis traditionally includes symptomatic drugs, showing a prompt action on pain and inflammation, but without any influence on disease progression, and other drugs that could modify the disease course and occasionally induce clinical remission (DMARDs or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). This review describes the historical steps that led to the use of the main DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis, such as gold salts, sulphasalazine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, D-penicillamine, and other immunoactive drugs, including methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporin and leflunomide. The historical evolution of use of these drugs is then discussed, including the strategy of progressive ("therapeutic pyramid") or of more aggressive treatment, through the simultaneous use of two or more DMARDs ("combination therapy").
authors.affiliation: Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy. piero.marson@sanita.padova.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasero
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marson
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005060:Europe; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha