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.
Adalimumab is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. However, the medication does more than just improve the symptoms; it actually helps prevent joint damage and worsening of the disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are many symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including chronic pain, along with tender, warm, and swollen joints. Adalimumab is used for treating the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and can also prevent future joint damage.
Adalimumab is part of a class of medicines known as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, or TNF inhibitors for short. As the name implies, adalimumab 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, psoriasis,
ankylosing spondylitis, or
Crohn's disease often have higher levels of TNF. These high levels can cause inflammation and lead to problems. By blocking TNF-alpha, adalimumab helps to relieve the symptoms of these conditions and, in some cases, prevents future damage from occurring.
Previous
