View source for Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug

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'''Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs''' ('''DMARDs''') is a category of drugs used in many [[Autoimmunity|autoimmune disorders]] to slow down disease progression. Their use was first propagated in [[rheumatoid arthritis]] (hence their name) but has come to include many other diseases, such as [[Crohn's disease]], [[lupus erythematosus]] (SLE), [[idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]] (ITP), [[myasthenia gravis]] and various others. 

Some of these drugs are also used in the treatment of [[ulcerative colitis]] which may not, strictly speaking, be an autoimmune disorder. (See [[List of Autoimmune Diseases]].)

Some DMARDs are mild [[chemotherapy|chemotherapeutics]] but use a side-effect of chemotherapy - ''[[immunosuppression]]'' - as its main therapeutical benefit.

==Members==
* [[adalimumab]]
* [[azathioprine]]
* [[chloroquine]] and [[hydroxychloroquine]] (antimalarials)
* [[cyclosporine]] (Cyclosporin A)
* [[D-penicillamine]]
* [[etanercept]]
* [[gold treatment|gold salts]] ([[sodium aurothiomalate]], [[auranofin]])
* [[infliximab]]
* [[leflunomide]]
* [[methotrexate]] (MTX)
* [[minocycline]] (a [[tetracycline]] antibiotic)
* [[sulfasalazine]] (SSZ)

==Alternatives==
When treatment with DMARDs fails, [[cyclophosphamide]] or [[steroid]] pulse therapy is often used to stabilise uncontrolled autoimmune disease. Some severe autoimmune diseases are being treated with [[bone marrow transplant]]s in [[clinical trial]]s, usually after cyclophosphamide therapy has failed.

{{Major Drug Groups}}
{{Anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products}}
[[Category:Immunosuppressive agents]]
[[Category:Immunology]]
[[Category:Autoimmune diseases| ]]

[[ru:Базисные препараты при ревматоидном артрите]]
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