Effect of Immuno Suppressent (Methylprednisolone) and its Biochemical Changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is potentially crippling disease. Numerous pharmacologic agents are available for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; the goal in therapy is relief of pain and inflammation, through modification of disease process. Several corticosteroids play an important role in the management of RA, among corticosteroids methylprednisolone shows beneficial effect. In this study the level of ADA activity, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rates are reduced after treatment with methylprednisolone compared to rheumatoid arthritis patients. This shows that methylprednisolone involves in several metabolism of inflammatory process. But it does not shown any significant changes in pain score compared to rheumatoid arthritis patients, this may be due to it does not involves in analgesic process. In rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation are important two symptoms. Based on present study it can be concluded that methylprednisolone has more anti-inflammatory effect compared to analgesic effect. So, while treating rheumatoid patient with methylprednisolone they should take care of pain of patient with some other pain killers like NSAIDS or potent opioids. The understanding of the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis and precise knowledge of the possible triggers of the inflammation may open novel therapeutic approaches. Hence, the present study suggests the importance of measuring the biomarkers of inflammation assessed in the study not only to determine the severity of inflammation and the effect of treatment with drug.