A Comparative Review of Current Therapeutic Approaches and Future Prospects of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects a large number of patients worldwide, causing enormous pain and imposing significant economic burdens on both individuals and society. Although the origin of RA remains unknown, evidence suggests that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disease. Once initiated, RA causes inflammation in the synovial joints, eventually leading to joint deformation and bone erosion. Currently, there is no definitive cure for RA; however, years of research and technological advances have provided numerous therapeutic approaches that can improve patients' conditions. Different patients respond differently to various therapies, making it important to summarize all categories of therapeutic approaches and their prospects. This review demonstrates the complex nature of RA by analyzing its etiology and pathogenesis. It then explains the major drugs used today and their comparative advantages. Potential treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, stem cell therapy, and nanotechnology-based approaches are also discussed, along with the challenges each method faces. This paper provides a general review of RA treatment and serves as a reference for future therapeutic research. Although the specific cause of RA remains unclear, this area could be an important direction for future study and holds the potential for achieving optimal treatment.