While there is still no cure for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), great strides have been made in RA research over the last 2 decades. It's important to keep up with these developments and ask your rheumatologist about their potential.

Since the 1980s, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been the standard among RA treatments because they do more than just treat symptoms. They can actually slow the development of RA.

In the 1990s, a new type of DMARD called biologic DMARDs was introduced. Many of these treatments target a chemical in the immune system called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which is directly involved in the inflammation of RA. These drugs are known as anti-TNFs (also called TNF inhibitors).

Today, there are other types of biologics that target different parts of the immune system to treat RA. These biologics include a T-cell modulator, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, an interleukin-6 inhibitor, and a targeted B-cell therapy. If you and your rheumatologist are considering a biologic, remember to weigh the potential benefits and risks along with your treatment history.