Humira Uses (Cont.)

 
Humira for Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of joint inflammation in people with psoriasis. Not all people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. Some symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include painfully inflamed joints and changes in the eyes and the fingernails.
 
Humira is approved to reduce the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. For psoriatic arthritis, Humira does more than just improve the symptoms; Humira actually helps prevent joint damage and worsening of the disease.
 
Humira for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that for some reason the immune system mistakes a person's own cells as invaders and attacks them, causing damage. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, scientists still do not know the cause or causes of rheumatoid arthritis.
 
There are many symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including chronic pain, along with tender, warm, and swollen joints. Humira is approved to treat the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and can also prevent future joint damage.
 

How Humira Works

Humira is part of a class of medicines known as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, or TNF inhibitors for short. As the name of the drug class implies, Humira blocks the activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is involved in inflammation and other immune system functions.
 
People with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or Crohn's disease often have higher levels of TNF. These high levels of TNF-alpha can cause inflammation and lead to problems. By blocking TNF-alpha, Humira helps to relieve the symptoms of these conditions and, in some cases, prevents future damage from occurring.
 
(Humira Uses Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;