Rheumatoid arthritis – when chemotherapy is no longer enough

Rheumatoid arthritis – when chemotherapy is no longer enough

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints – often the hands, feet or knees. The immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissue, which can lead to pain, swelling and even joint destruction over a long period of time. In the early stages, many sufferers respond well to medication, including so-called basic therapeutics or chemotherapeutic agents such as methotrexate. But what happens when these no longer help?

When the disease progresses

In some cases, RA progresses despite drug treatment. Joints become inflamed again and again, everyday movements become more difficult and the quality of life decreases. This is referred to as an aggressive or therapy-resistant form of the disease. In this case, attempts are often made to switch to biological medication (“biologics”) – these intervene specifically in the immune system. However, even this therapy is not always sufficient or is not well tolerated.

Toxopheresis – an innovative approach for severe inflammation

Toxopheresis is a form of blood purification in which specific pro-inflammatory substances are filtered out of the blood. The goal is to significantly reduce the body’s inflammatory response—similar to a reset for the immune system. This therapy is primarily intended for individuals in whom conventional treatments are no longer sufficiently effective. Early studies and clinical experience suggest that toxopheresis can alleviate symptoms and markedly lower inflammation levels in many cases.

New paths, new hope

Even if rheumatoid arthritis does not simply “go away”, there are now more ways than ever to bring it under control – even in difficult cases. It is important to regularly review the therapy together with doctors, to find individual ways and to be open to new approaches. Procedures such as toxopheresis show that research is continuing and that new perspectives are also emerging for particularly severe courses.