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The rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that deforms and cause terrible pain, continues to defy the doctors. But there is good news in this battle.

No rheumatic disease as devastating as rheumatoid arthritis. It arises when the immune system of the person starts to see the cells of the joints as enemy an attack against them. The vested triggering an inflammation. Let on your own course, the inflammatory process destroys the cartilage between the joints and damage the bones that are coming. The result is pain and terrible deformities, mainly in the hands, wrists, knees, ankles and feet. It is estimated that there are nearly 2 million patients only in Brazil. The science was still unable to completely uncover the mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis, but has achieved success in the development of drugs capable of containing their advance. The newest weapon arsenal that has just received the approval of the FDA, the American agency for the control of medicines and food, and should arrive in Brazil until the end of the year. This is the Humira, Abbott laboratory.

The newly approved drug belongs to a class of drugs launched less than five years. Besides Humira, are part of that group the Enbrel, manufactured by Wyeth, and Remicade, Schering-Plough. The three drugs inhibit the action of TNF protein, responsible for the destruction of the joints. The Humira, however, has two differences in relation to those predecessors. Instead of being composed of antibodies from animal or synthetic, it is made of antibodies identical to humans. Thus, the experts believe, is decrease the risks of rejection and allergies. Moreover, Humira is administered by the patient himself, as a subcutaneous injections twice a month. The Enbrel requires minced every two days. Already the Remicade, the only available in Brazil, requires intravenous application, made in hospital every two months. There is no comparative studies between the three drugs, it is impossible to relate the effectiveness of one of the other. Polls show that isolated this new class of drugs can prevent up to 80% of cases the damage in the joints. A major drawback is the cost of treatment. A single application of Remicade can cost more than 2, 500 american dollars.

The rheumatoid arthritis attacks mainly between 35 and 55 years. For each patient man, three women in the same situation. At the beginning of the disease, the patient is involved, fatigue, muscle pain, swelling and stiffness in some light joints. "As complaints are vague, the diagnosis at that stage is difficult. Therefore, many people only discover they have the disease when they are in more advanced stages, " says the reumatologist Evelin Goldenberg, teacher of the Federal University of Sao Paulo. If the diagnosis is early, it is a reasonable chance of slowing the progression of the damage in the joints through medicines cheaper than the class of Humira.

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