Excitement in synovium: the rapid evolution of understanding of rheumatoid arthritis and expectations for therapy.

Multiple events give rise to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and many different elements create an overall pathological effect. It is highly unlikely that a single cause for RA will be identified. A greater appreciation of the multiple events that lead to the development of RA is opening up a number of promising points of intervention which may serve as potential alternatives to the broader-based and often toxic drugs used in RA therapy today.