Have the new drugs relieved the burden of the orthopedic surgeon?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents a chronic joint inflammation that lead s to destructive lesions of joint cartilage and periarticular bone. Increas ed understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of RA and recent advantages in molecular technology have resulted in new antirheumatic drugs such as tumor necrosis factor-ct blockers, inhibitors of interleukin-l, an d novel disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as leflunomide. This rev iew summarizes the important effects of the novel antirheumatic drugs and t heir potential impact on the work of orthopedic surgeons. The ability of th ese agents not only to improve the clinical signs and symptoms of RA but al so to prevent progressive joint damage promises support to the work of orth opedic surgeons and to the interdisciplinary treatment of RA patients. The challenge, however, will be to conduct studies that show the concrete way i n which the single drugs may best relieve the burden of the orthopedic surg eon. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.