Study: TNF blockers don't prevent RA's progress

A recent study in the United Kingdom suggests that short-term treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking medications eases the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but it does not appear to prevent the development of the disease. In the study, 17 RA patients were given either doses of Remicade, methotrexate, or a placebo. After 14 weeks, the Remicade users showed greater improvements in RA symptom markers than patients in the other two groups. But after 26 weeks, all of the patients showed the same disease activity, regardless of which medication they were given.  Read full story >