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Intacept 506/28/2023 ![]() RA and similar inflammatory arthritis are lifelong disorders and need long term medication and therefore the rheumatologist will carefully decide how long to take biologic DMARD as per an individual case.The decision to start biologic DMARD is taken with utmost care by the rheumatologist after detail evaluation of several clinical, investigation and socioeconomic factors.Biologic DMARDs control the symptoms rapidly and the effect can be very dramatic.They target specific components (such as cytokines, cells, and receptors) of the body's immune system that are responsible for the severity and complications.Biologic DMARD are very effective in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and several other inflammatory arthritis and can produce complete control/remission in several patients.In recent times, biological DMARDs with very specific and potent therapeutic effect on some important component of the immune system have been introduced to treat several types of bad severe arthritis.The efficacy of oral DMARD is much less in AS.Traditional DMARD include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquin, sulfasalazine and leflunomide and are most useful in RA.Blood cells and hemoglobin, and functions of liver and kidney need to be carefully monitored and care needed to avoid infections uncommonly skin reactions and gut related effects may be seen.DMARDs are prescribed by specialists like rheumatologists and need careful supervision and repeated monitoring (including blood tests) to check for efficacy and drug related side effects. ![]() Over time, long term use of DMARDs leads to good control of disease with reduction in requirement of pain killers, steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs.DMARDs unlike pain killers (Crocin™), steroids (wysolone™) and anti-inflammatory drugs (like Voveran™ and Naprosyn™ ) are slow acting and may take several weeks to months to show optimum effect.However, in this article, we focus on the special drugs used to treat RA and AS.ĭMARDs (disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs) are special drugs that act on the immune system to reduce the signs and symptoms and bone damage and other systemic complications of autoimmune inflammatory arthritis disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Tobacco is a major risk factor and must be avoided. Patients must look after their nutrition and life styles. It is also necessary to maintain good mental health. ![]() There is an important role of physiotherapy, exercise and proper body weight. It makes patients more prone for infections and certain cancers. ![]() It reduces quality of life and life span. RA is a systemic disease and can effect several other organs. However, there are several other targets like inflammation swelling of joints, control of immune mediated inflammatory process, osteoporosis, anemia, poor health, preventing joint deformities and disability. Note: Treatment of RA and AS begin with providing relief of pain using analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Treating Rhaumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS) with Special Drugs: An Overview of Newer DrugsA NEW ERA OF TARGET THERAPY by Dr Arvind Chopra
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