| Theme |
Bone disorders in rheumatic diseases |
| Title |
Effect of anti-inflammatory therapy for synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis |
| Author |
Yosuke Okada |
First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan |
| Author |
Yoshiya Tanaka |
First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan |
| [ Summary ] |
The characteristic feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is persistent inflammatory synovitis, usually involving peripheral joints in a symmetric distribution. The potential of the synovial inflammation to cause cartilage destruction and bone erosions and subsequent changes in joint integrity is the hallmark of the disease. Specific inhibitors of the isoform of cyclooxygenase (COX) that is upregulated at inflammatory sites COX-2 have been developed. COX-2 specific inhibitor have been shown to be as effective as nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which inhibit both isoforms of COX, but to cause significantly less gastroduodenal ulceration. Clinical efficacy and safety of COX-2 specific inhibitor for RA may result from its preferential inhibition of COX-2 activity relative to COX-1 on rheumatoid synoviocytes. |