Summary:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the commonest joint disease
with considerable morbidity and mortality. Conventional
disease modifying antirheumatic drugs like methotrexate
form the cornerstone of therapy. These drugs have several
limitations in terms of slow onset of action, adverse effects
and modest remission rates. Several cytokines are involved
in the pathogenesis of RA. Biological agents that specifically
inhibit the effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a)
or interleukin-1 (IL-1) represent a major advancement in
the treatment of RA. By targeting mediators that are directly
involved in the pathogenesis of RA, these agents slow the