How is RA treated?
There is presently no cure for RA but treatment options have greatly improved over the past 2 decades. Successful management requires early diagnosis and, at times, aggressive treatment. Mainstay therapy is with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs are often used in conjunction with NSAIDs and/or low-dose corticosteroids. DMARDs have greatly improved the symptoms and function as well as the quality of life for the vast majority of patients with RA and have been shown to slow down disease progression and reduce the risk for joint destruction. DMARDs include methotrexate, leflunomide (Arava), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), and azathioprine (Imuran). For patients with more significant disease, medications referred to as “biologic DMARDs” can specifically target parts of the immune system that lead to inflammation, joint and tissue damage. They include adalimuma (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), abatace
