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A quick and painless reminder: the pharmacotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis in primary practice


Linda Brand
De Wet Wolmarans
Sarel J. Brand

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disorder, is characterised by chronic inflammation of the joints, synovial hyperplasia and bone erosion. These pathological features are promoted by a synovial microenvironment featuring B-cell and T-cell infiltrate, synovial fibroblasts and an intricate network of pro-inflammatory cellular messengers – prominent molecular role-players that represent critical targets in the pharmacotherapy of the disease. This review offers a brief overview of the etiopathology of rheumatoid arthritis while focussing on the practical aspects of methotrexate and glucocorticoid use that are of relevance for primary practice.


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eISSN: 2078-6204
print ISSN: 2078-6190