Despite the tremendous progress of medicine and success in deciphering the human genetic code, rheumatoid arthritis remains one of the most severe chronic diseases difficult to treat. This pathology has an autoimmune origin, the exact causes of its development have not yet been established. In connection with this, scientists have established research institutes, constantly developing effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis - drugs of a new generation that act faster than their predecessors. In addition, such agents provoke fewer negative side effects in patients, better tolerated.
Preparations for the modern treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Therapy of the disease under consideration consists of two groups of drugs:
- anti-inflammatory ;
- basic.
The first type of medication is designed for rapid relief of pain in joints and other signs of rheumatoid arthritis, its symptomatic treatment.
Basic preparations slow the progression of the pathology or transfer its course into a state of remission, regulating directly the mechanisms of the development of the disease, suppress the work of the immune system.
In place of obsolete medicines, which not only cause many side effects, but also act very slowly (over a period of several months), biological agents have come. Preparations of genetic engineering in rheumatoid arthritis affect the function of immunity, namely - suppress the production of cytokine cells that provoke inflammatory processes and erosive joint damage. The main advantage of biological agents is their ability to act solely on one group of immune components, without affecting other mechanisms. Moreover, such medications allow you to get results much faster than previously used drugs, a pronounced effect is noticeable already in 2-4 weeks from the beginning of admission.
Genetic engineering medicines for therapy in rheumatoid arthritis also include drugs with monoclonal antibodies to the surface receptors of B-lymphocytes - cells involved in the processes of joint destruction and inflammation provocation. In fact, the described drugs also suppress the production of cytokines, but still at the early stages of their formation, "in the bud."
List of new generation drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
The biological agents considered in the previous section can be conditionally classified into several varieties according to the mechanism of their action. Today, the following new drugs are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis:
1. Interleukin-1 inhibitors:
- The Kinneret (anakinra).
2. Blockers of tumor necrosis factor or TNF-blockers:
- Remicade (infliximab);
- Enbrel (etanercept);
- Humirae (adalimumab).
3. Means that interfere with the work of B-lymphocytes:
- Rituxan (rituximab).
4. Medications that suppress the activation of immunity T cells:
- Orence (abatacept).
At the moment, all listed medicines are produced abroad and have no analogues.
Are new-generation drugs effective against rheumatoid arthritis?
According to medical research and numerous reviews of rheumatologists, as well as their patients, the presented drugs have a quick and pronounced positive effect even in severe joint damage cases. Studies have shown that a third of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis experience persistent remission of pathology after the use of biological agents.