Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes interminable irritation and inflammation of the joints and the tissues surrounding it. Rheumatoid arthritis is also known to cause tenderness and swelling of the other organs of the body. Since this form of arthritis is autoimmune, it is defined by the characteristic that the progression of the disease occurs because the tissues in the body are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system. Rheumatic arthritis symptoms include a lack of appetite, fatigue, mild fever, muscle and joint aches coupled with stiffness and they appear and reappear sporadically. The stiffness of muscles and joints is usually most prominent in the mornings and after prolonged inactive periods.
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis consists of a combination of one or two approaches since till date; there is no known cure for this ailment. The main aim of the treatment procedure is to reduce joint pain and inflammation, maximize joint function, and prevent joint damage. An early start to the treatment involves a blend of rest, medications, joint strengthening exercises, joint protection, and patient education to ensure steady progress in combating the illness. The newest form of medication is abatacept which goes by the brand name of Orencia. Abatacept is an injectable protein that is accountable for protecting the body against foreign intruders like bacteria. In patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the normal tissue lining surrounding the joints, thus causing pain and inflammation. This may further result in damage to the bones and cartilage. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are known to have an increased numbers of T-lymphocyte cells within the inflamed joints.  The T-lymphocytes multiply and discharge chemicals that aid in the destruction of tissues surrounding the joints.
Abatacept works as an antibody and attaches itself to proteins on the surface of T-lymphocytes thus preventing its activation. This ensures the blockage of both the production of new T-lymphocytes and the production of the chemicals that destroy the tissue linings. Abatacept helps in slowing down the damage to the bones and cartilage. This newer treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was approved by the FDA in December 2005. The success rate of Abatacept has not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women and nursing mothers. The most common side effects of Abatacept are nausea, headache and upper respiratory tract infections since the medicine depresses the immune system and thus, reduces the body’s ability to fight infection. Consequently, existing infections may aggravate or new ones may crop up. Patients may also experience dizziness, hypotension, hypertension, wheezing cough and shortness of breath. The most serious side effect of this new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is cancer.
