Disease-Modifying Anti_Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) |
| Medications for Scleroderma, Arthritis,
Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases |
| This page was written by Janey Willis. See Disclaimer. |
| |
Overview of DMARDs |
| DMARDs are Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs used for a variety of conditions from Irritable Bowel Disease to scleroderma. DMARDs include immunosuppressants, antimalarial drugs, anti-inflammatory metals, and biologic agents. (Also see: What is Scleroderma?, Medical Overview, and Medications for Scleroderma, Arthritis, Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases) |
| Immunosuppressants fall under a category of drugs referred to as DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). ISN. |
| Scleroderma Treatments and Clinical Trials ISN. |
Combination Therapy with DMARDS |
| Tolerability of methotrexate (MTX) and leflunomide (LEF) combination therapy for inflammatory arthritis in routine clinical practice: results of a four-centre study. The contrasting modes of action of MTX and LEF make them attractive candidates for use in combination with the potential to provide additive or synergistic actions, perhaps without the need for expensive biologic agents. A. Kaul. Rheumatology Advance Access. July 15, 2008. (Also see: Arthritis and Immunosuppressants) |
| Low-dose Prednisolone in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Adverse Effects (AE) of Various Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARD). Low-dose glucocorticoids retard radiological progression of RA and exhibit a differential effect on survival of DMARD and degree of AE due to DMARD. J Rheumatol April 15 2008 (Also See: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Medications: steroids) |
| Anti-rheumatic drug use and risk of serious infections in rheumatoid arthritis. In this large cohort of RA patients, the most heightened risk of serious infections was seen with the use of glucocorticoid agents and immunosuppressive DMARDs. Rheumatology. Volume 46, Number 7 Pp. 1157-1160. (Also see: RA) |
| Therapy with Immunosuppressive Drugs and Biological Agents and Use of Contraception in Patients with Rheumatic Disease. The increasing use of combination therapies containing Methotrexate necessitates ensuring that advice regarding birth control is followed in order to avoid pregnancies exposed to potentially fetotoxic drugs. J Rheumatol 2007 June;34:1266-9. (Also see: Scleroderma and Pregnancy) |
Biologic Agents |
| Biologics or biologic agents are biologic response modifying agents that block specific pathways and signals of inflammation. Some of the biologics used to treat rheumatic diseases include etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), abatacept (Orencia), and rituximab (Rituxan). ISN. |
|
|
Antimalarials (Plaquenil, Hydroxychloroquine) |
| Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine). Hydroxychloroquine is classified as an anti-malarial drug. It is similar to chloroquine (Aralen) and is useful in treating several forms of malaria as well as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. MedicineNet.com. |
| Hydroxychloroquine: From Malaria to Autoimmunity. In recent years, antimalarials were shown to have various immunomodulatory effects, and currently have an established role in the management of rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, skin diseases, and in the treatment of chronic Q fever. Ben-Zvi I. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2011 Jan 8. (PubMed). (Also see: Autoimmunity) |
| Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) improves dry eye symptoms of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). The results of this study suggest that HCQ may alleviate symptoms and signs of dry eye in pSS and decreases tear fluid B-cell activating factor (BAFF) levels. Sule Yavuz Rheumatology International. 23 March 2010 (Also see: Treatments for Dry Eyes) |
| Effects of chronic exposure to hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine on inner retinal structures. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful to detect peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thinning in clinically evident retinopathy, and selective thinning of the macular inner retina can be detected in the absence of clinically apparent fundus changes. Pasadhika S. Eye (Lond). 2010 Feb;24(2):340-6. (Also see: Medications) |
| Systematic review of hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) use in pregnant patients with autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of congenital defects, spontaneous abortions, number of live births, fetal death and pre-maturity in women with autoimmune diseases taking HCQ during pregnancy. It found that HCQ is not associated with any increased risk of congenital defects, spontaneous abortions, fetal death, pre-maturity and decreased numbers of live births in patients with auto-immune diseases. Kirk Sperber Pediatric Rheumatology 13 May 2009. (Also see: Pregnancy and Medications) |
Medicinal Metals: Gold, Platinum |
| Gold and some other metals have been proven to suppress the inflammatory process. DMARDs such as Auranofin and Gold sodium thiomalate are forms of gold used to treat rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. |
| Gold Preparations (Ridaura, Myochrysine, Solganol). Patient Information. American College of Rheumatology. |
| Mystery solved: Gold's power against autoimmune diseases defined. Gold compounds have been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases for more than 75 years, but until now, how the metals work has been a mystery. Harvard Medical School researchers report that special forms of gold, platinum, and other classes of medicinal metals work by stripping bacteria and virus particles from the grasp of a key immune system protein. It may now be possible to develop a new generation of gold-based drugs for treating autoimmune diseases that are more effective with fewer side effects. EurekAlert! 02-26-06. |
Sulfasalazine |
| Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is an anti-inflammatory medication that belongs to a class of drugs called sulfa drugs. Sulfasalazine is also known as a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also may prevent damage to joints and reduce the risk of long term disability. Patient Information. American College of Rheumatology. |
