New treatment possibilities in rheumatoid arthritis

It is very difficult to predict future treatment modalities especially in d iseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with unknown etiology and pathogenes is. In the near future, traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs ( DMARD) alone, in combination with each other, or together with cyclosporine , FK506, Rapamycin, or Leflunomide, will probably be the main treatment for RA. Currently biological anti-TNF alpha agents like humanized MAb and reco mbinant TNF-receptor constructs are now launched in the market. This therap y alone, or in combination with methotrexate is very effective in RA patien ts. There are, however, concerns over increase in serious infections. Autol ogous stem cell transplantation will probably be used in certain patient wi th serious autoimmune diseases.