Bkwrm398's Musings

My latest endeavor into trying to understand the RA process is trying to understand cytokines, which came up in searches I performed relating to the inflammation process.  Cytokines are small proteins that are secreted to control/regulate immunity, inflammation and the formation and development of blood cells.

 If cytokines control inflammation is stands to reason, in my mind, that they play a part of the RA process.  It turns out that assumption was correct and there are current RA meds aimed at blocking cytokines gone awry.

 "Overproduction or inappropriate production of certain cytokines by the body can result in disease....interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha are produced in excess where they are involved in RA."

RA meds aimed at these cytokines are:

Kineret (anakinra)  IL-1 inhibitor
Enbrel (etanercept)  TNF-alpha inhibitor
Remicade (infliximab)  TNF-alpha inhibitor
Humira (adalimumab)  TNF-alpha inhibitor