Publications

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is aninflammatory illness that mostly affectsthe joints, although it can also affect otherorgans and limit movement. Thissymmetrical, chronic illness typicallymanifests between the ages of 35 and 60and causes joint degradation, pain, andsystemic symptoms. Because of theirdifferent clinical manifestations, RA andosteoarthritis must be distinguished fromone another. Osteoarthritis is caused bywear and tear, whereas RA is symmetricaland involves an immunological response.The goals of RA management are to lessendiscomfort, reduce inflammation, andavoid joint deformities and destructionbecause there is currently no knowntreatment for RA. A combination ofmedication, specialized exercise,education, and rest are used in treatmentplans, taking into account the disease'scourse, the joints that are impacted, andthe patient's general health. The two mainforms of treatment are corticosteroids andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatorymedications (NSAIDs), which reduceinflammation and discomfort butfrequently present varying side effects.Disease modifying anti-rheumaticmedications commonly called DMARDs,provide a backup plan by delaying thedeterioration of joints and easingassociated symptoms. Modern treatmentoptions include methotrexate,hydrochloroquine, and more recent drugslike leflunomide and biologics likeinterleukin inhibitors and tumor necrosisfactor (TNF) inhibitors, each with uniqueadvantages and disadvantages. In order toimprove joint function and reducediscomfort, surgical interventions—whichhave become less common as a result ofmedical advancements are taken intoconsideration for severe cases or end-stageRA. Physcial and occupational therapy,nutritional supplements, complementarytherapies, and current molecularmechanism research provide furtheroptions for controlling RA symptoms andenhancing the quality of life for patients.This review offers a thorough analysis ofboth traditional and contemporary RAtreatments, emphasizing the need for amultimodal strategy to effectively managethe disease and pointing out possibledirections for future research anddevelopment.Keywords: Autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Disease-modifying drugs, Jointdegradation, Osteoarthritis, Joint pain