Biomaterial Database

Expanding role of biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis. 2002

Joachim R Kalden

Department of Internal Medicine III, Institute for Clinical Immunology, Erlangen, Germany.

Biologic agents are an important addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Initially these drugs were reserved for use in patients with progressive RA who had an inadequate response to treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. The optimal role of biologics in the treatment of RA remains to be defined. Data from ongoing clinical trials will provide insight on when to most effectively administer these agents.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007167	Immunotherapy	Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection.	Immunotherapies
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D004359	Drug Therapy, Combination	Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect.	Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis
D001688	Biological Products	Complex pharmaceutical substances, preparations, or matter derived from organisms usually obtained by biological methods or assay.	Biologic,Biologic Drug,Biologic Product,Biological,Biological Drug,Biological Medicine,Biological Product,Biologics,Biopharmaceutical,Natural Product,Natural Products,Biologic Drugs,Biologic Medicines,Biologic Pharmaceuticals,Biologic Products,Biological Drugs,Biological Medicines,Biologicals,Biopharmaceuticals,Products, Biological,Drug, Biologic,Drug, Biological,Drugs, Biologic,Drugs, Biological,Medicine, Biological,Medicines, Biologic,Medicines, Biological,Pharmaceuticals, Biologic,Product, Biologic,Product, Biological,Product, Natural
D012219	Rheumatology	A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the study of inflammatory or degenerative processes and metabolic derangement of connective tissue structures which pertain to a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, such as arthritis.
D018450	Disease Progression	The worsening and general progression of a disease over time. This concept is most often used for chronic and incurable diseases where the stage of the disease is an important determinant of therapy and prognosis.	Clinical Course,Clinical Progression,Disease Exacerbation,Exacerbation, Disease,Progression, Clinical,Progression, Disease