Drugs for the Treatment of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease

Abstract

Drugs that are used to treat acute and chronic inflammatory disorders suppress natural processes that contribute to the signs and symptoms of inflammation. Drugs that are used to treat simple forms of arthritis such as gout and osteoarthritis relieve pain and swelling and improve mobility. These agents are often referred to as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In the absence of known infection, chronic inflammation with strong immune components is termed autoimmune. Drugs that are used to treat autoimmune arthritides such as rheumatoid arthritis and the reactive arthritides (psoriatic arthritis and Reiter’s syndrome) act not only to suppress inflammation but also to modify the disease process by impairing the expression of the immune components of the inflammation. These latter drugs are often referred to as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs can act as immunomodulators or as immunosuppressive agents. Autoimmune disorders without attendant inflammation are generally treated with immunosuppressive drugs alone. Antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs are listed in Table I.