Treatment
-Alleviation of pain, & swelling, prevention of structural damage & preservation of function are goals of treatment (Usually done w/ NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors & corticosteroids
-Disease-modifying drugs are commonly used to achieve long-term control & are recommended to minimize later damage (Methotrexate, sulfasalazine & antimalarials are used for anti-inflammation & immune regulation)
-Immunosuppressive agents are used for management of RA as well , but less commonly used
-Abtacept, a fusion protein inhibits activation of T-cells that produce an inflammatory response