There are many different methods for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the choice of which depends on the type of disease, degree of activity, the flow pattern of changes of the joints, number of affected joints, extraarticular manifestations and other factors.

General principles for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Cure Rheumatoid Arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications   absolutely impossible today. But you can reduce the inflammatory and allergic processes, relieve pain, improve joint function and prevent the complete immobility of patients. Thus begins a complex than before treatment, the better the prognosis.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis should be comprehensive and systematic. Of course, it should take place only on prescription, which may be combined outpatient, inpatient and spa treatments.

The main focus of treatment should be integrated suppression of the autoimmune process that underlies the destruction of the joints, pain and loss of motor function. The structure of the complex treatment must necessarily include anti-inflammatory medication and pain relief in joints. Another important area of ​​complex treatment is cleansing the body of toxic products of metabolism, inflammatory and allergic reactions.

Finally, during remission should be paid great attention to reducing treatment - restoration of blood flow, metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things   and operation of the affected joints. To this end, in addition to medication, different kinds of physical therapy, including in terms of the resort.

The suppression of the autoimmune process in rheumatoid arthritis

This treatment is called the base, in its basic framework used drugs that suppress immunological processes and proliferation of connective tissue cells. This prevents the growth of fresh connective tissue in the joints, which destroys the cartilage and leads eventually to the bone growths in the articular surfaces.

All basic drugs act very slowly, they need to apply at least six months to see the effect. Nevertheless, this basic treatment, which should be administered to the patient as soon as possible.

For basic drugs include methotrexate, sulfasalazine and leflunomide. Last drug (or leflunomide Arava) has fewer side effects than the other two. Leflunomide is a new drug, its mechanism of action is that it blocks an enzyme that promotes activation of the immune system.

Anti-inflammatory treatment

Anti-inflammatory treatment of rheumatoid arthritis begins to take place nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have both inflammatory and analgesic effects. These drugs include aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, nimesulide and so on. These drugs rapidly reduce inflammation and pain, but as in rheumatoid arthritis they have to apply for a long time, for each individual patient should choose a drug that he's better moves.

The main drawback of these drugs is that they can cause erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. More recent second generation of NSAIDs (e.g., nimesulide) have a less pronounced side effects, however, it is.

If you remove the inflammation and pain using NSAIDs fails, prescribed glucocorticosteroid (GCS) drugs - hormones that instantly removes all the phenomena of inflammation. In some cases, corticosteroids are administered directly into the joint. These drugs also have their side effects: decreased immunity, increased blood pressure, a negative effect on bone, and so on. But nowadays developed short courses corticosteroids that reduce inflammation and pain, and have no time to have significant side effects.

Today, new drugs are available to relieve inflammation and pain - Biologicals. They suppress the activity of the protein, which is called tumor necrosis factor and plays an important role in the inflammatory process. These drugs include etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira). All they quickly reduce inflammation and pain. Other biologicals anakinra (Kineret) has a different mechanism of action, it binds to a particular protein that activates cells of the affected tissues.

Other treatments

In severe rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis - debunking myths about the disease   such methods of cleansing the body Cleansing the body - comprehensive restoration   toxins as hemosorbtion and plasmapheresis - a special way the blood is purified and injected back to the patient. With the same purpose may be used courses ehnterosorbentov example enterosgelya, which is characterized in that when administered only removes toxic substances leaving useful.

In remission apply physiotherapy, physical therapy and spa treatments.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis must be durable, while much depends not only on the doctor, but also from the patient.

Galina Romanenko

  Arthritis - a form of arthritis in which the disease affected more than four or five joints. It is often associated with autoimmune disorders. Arthritis affects people of any age and gender.

For the treatment of arthritis are often used following medications:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

NSAIDs reduce inflammation by blocking the activity of prostaglandins, substances that play an important role in inflammatory processes. They also relieve mild to moderate pain. NVPV act quickly and usually have fewer side effects than some of the more powerful and more toxic drugs used to treat arthritis. However, in some cases NSAID causes indigestion and ulcers.

• Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune response. Since arthritis is often caused by autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus: how to recognize the disease , Corticosteroids are used to suppress the immune response, which is accompanied by such violations. Most corticosteroids are the first drugs that are prescribed for patients with such diseases. To prevent steroid-induced osteoporosis Osteoporosis - he threatens you? It is advised to take, for example, bisphosphonates - they contribute to the prevention of decreased bone mass. Corticosteroids often help relieve pain and other symptoms much more quickly than many other drugs.

• Basic antirheumatic drugs that modify the course of the disease (DMARDs)

DMARDs can alter the course of many diseases that cause arthritis What is arthritis - when it hurts everywhere . As they begin to act 6-8 weeks after the start of, during this period is often administered concomitant use of corticosteroids and NSAIDs. DMARDs as corticosteroids, the therapeutic effect is achieved by suppressing the immune system. For the treatment of arthritis Methotrexate is often used - the same drug that is sometimes used for chemotherapy cancer patients, only in much larger doses. Methotrexate can cause liver damage, so while it is necessary to regularly receive blood of the patient, as soon as possible to identify these and other possible side effects. Other DMARDs used for the treatment of arthritis, are

sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. The latter is an antimalarial drug. Approximately one out of 40,000 it causes serious eye damage.

• Anti-TNF drugs

Tumor necrosis factor causes inflammation in many varieties of arthritis and arthritis. Drugs that block tumor necrosis factor, called anti-TNF drugs. Among the most commonly used anti-TNF drugs such as etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab. They are administered by intravenous or subcutaneous injection. Acceptance of anti-TNF can cause fever, chills, muscle aches and joint pain, headaches, increased susceptibility to infections and other side effects.

• Physiotherapy at polyarthritis

Physical therapy helps patients with arthritis to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in the joints. Techniques such as magnetic therapy, ultrasound, paraffin, ozokeritotherapy, cryotherapy is used in conjunction with drug therapy. They help restore blood flow to damaged joints, to normalize the metabolism Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting   and slow down the process of bone loss.

Treatment of fever should be constant, as to completely stop the disease is impossible. Due to the continuous treatment, the patient can permanently maintain the quality of life, the usual level of activity and good health.