Therapeutic Strategies

Therapeutic Strategies

The treatment of patients with inflammation involves two primary goals: 

• first, the relief of symptoms and the maintenance of function, which are usually the major continuing complaints of the patient

• second, the slowing or arrest of the tissue-damaging process. 

Reduction of inflammation with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often results in relief of pain for significant periods. Furthermore, most of the nonopioid analgesics (aspirin, etc) have anti-inflammatory effects, so they are appropriate for the treatment of both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

The glucocorticoids also have powerful anti-inflammatory effects and when first introduced were considered to be the ultimate answer to the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. Although there are increasing data that low-dose corticosteroids have disease-modifying properties, the toxicity associated with chronic corticosteroid therapy usually limits their use. The glucocorticoids continue to have a significant role in the long-term treatment of arthritis.

Another important group of agents is characterized as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). They decrease inflammation, usually improve symptoms, and slow the bone damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis. They are thought to affect more basic inflammatory mechanisms than do glucocorticoids or the NSAIDs. They may also be more toxic than those alternative medications.

Posted in: Anti inflamatory drugs