[Drug therapy of rheumatoid arthritis]

Despite substantial advances in research, there has been no corresponding improvement in the medicinal treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. With correct treatment strategies, however, it is possible to obtain a marked amelioration of disease manifestations, and the improvement can be maintained for several months, even as long as two years. The high mortality and degree of handicap after 15-20 years' duration of disease is unlikely to be affected by medicinal treatment. New treatment strategies and remission-inducing drugs with new mechanisms of action are being developed.