Mechanism of action of drugs for treating inflammation and arthritis.

The mechanism of action of various types of drugs for treating inflammation and arthritis is reviewed. Three classes of agents, the steroidal, the acidic non-steroidal and the basic therapy drugs, are discussed. The first two types of drugs act rapidly on the symptoms of inflammation, interfering at various points in the inflammatory response. The non-steroidal agents are especially linked to a mechanism involving, at least in part, the prostaglandins. Piroxicam, a potent, structurally unique member of the non-steroidal class, is discussed in some detail. The basic therapy drugs act slowly, generally exhibit more severe side effects and probably affect some immunological aspects of rheumatoid arthritis. The precise mechanisms of action of this latter class of structurally diverse drugs is generally poorly understood at this time.